JONATHAN Finch bowled brilliant Lowerhouse to only the second Lancashire League title in their long history last night as he took top billing on the big stage.

The all-rounder showed his class in claiming 8-38 from a punishing 22-over spell to knock over Todmorden for 82 at Centre Vale after Lowerhouse had themselves been bowled out for just 127.

Charlie Cottam’s men went into the game knowing a win would see them crowned as champions – and Finch was the man for the occasion.

It was tense and it was nervous and Lowerhouse batted first after Cottam won the toss – and local sages suggested 120 would be a winning score on a wicket that was wet.

Those predictions seemed spot on as Lowerhouse crawled to 8-0 from the first 10 overs with Finch and Ben Heap tied down supremely by Qaiser Abbas and Stevie Barker.

Finch was first to go in the 18th over for 16 as he chopped on and Heap soon followed as the House wobbled to 36-2.

Francois Haasbroek went for nine, stumped brilliantly by Danny Brown a ball after he had launched Abbas out of the ground but the nerves were there for all to see.

Joe Martin was run out by Cottam and Chris Bleazard was out for 15 - but the real heroes of the innings were youngsters Paddy Martin, who top scored with 20, and Matt Walker, who was 15 not out at the end.

Abbas claimed 6-55 - but his final over went for 11 and that gave Lowerhouse belief.

But with Haasbroek forced to bowl off a short run thanks to discomfort in his knee, it could have gone wrong.

And when Finch ripped out the first four batsmen, including danger men Simon Newbitt and Abbas, he and his fans were starting to believe.

Tod skipper Andrew Sutcliffe held them up with 18 and James Crossley made a late 15 but with Bleazard producing a brilliant direct hit run out and Finch on fire they were not going to be denied.

Lowerhouse innings
JA Finch b SR Barker 16
BR Heap st Brown b Abbas 10
J Martin run out 11
Haasbroek lbw b Abbas 9
CR Cottam c Brown b Abbas 9
CJ Bleazard lbw b Abbas 15
PTBM Martin b SR Barker 20
J Beneduce c N Barker b Abbas 1
MJ Walker not out 15
FB Bailey c N Barker b Abbas 8
JJ Russell run out 0
Extras 13
Total (10 wickets) 127.

Abbas 25 7 55 6, SR Barker 18 2 48 2, Morgan 7 1 21 0.

Todmorden innings
SD Newbitt c Heap b Finch 16
BD Sutcliffe c Cottam b Finch 2
N Barker c PTBM Martin b Finch 1
Abbas c Haasbroek b Finch 1
A Sutcliffe b Bailey 13
SR Barker c Bailey b Finch 11
MJ Brierley run out 7
PD Senior c PTBM Martin b Finch 1
JS Crossley c Heap b Finch 15
DL Brown st J Martin b Finch 6
JNH Morgan not out 0
Extras 9
Total (10 wickets) 82.

Haasbroek 18 5 29 0, Finch 22 5 38 8, Bailey 4 1 13 1.

Lowerhouse won by 45 runs.

Todmorden 3 pts, Lowerhouse 12 pts