AFTER a disappointing away result on Saturday, Settle bounced back next day with an emphatic home cup win against the unbeaten league leaders.

The league match at Kearsley was distorted by rain and revised targets, but Settle got off to a decent start from John Davidson (23) and Tremaine Dowrich (20). The batting then faded away until James Snowden posted 13 and Paul Dockerty made 18 as last man out with the total on 104.

A revised target of 82 did not look a problem for the hosts until Eddy Read removed the top three including the pro and overseas amateur. However, these were the only wickets to fall as Kearsley won inside 17 overs to move up to eighth place and leave Settle stuck on 12th.

The eagerly anticipated Hamer Cup quarter-final against all-conquering Little Lever did not disappoint. Skipper Will Davidson called correctly to enable Archie Phillipson and overseas amateur Dowrich to put on 51 for the first wicket.

The Yorkshire Under-16 scored 30 and the Barbadian 24, making way for pro Ashen Silva to frustrate the Lancastrians with 52 from 61 balls. He took singles almost at will as the fielding went ragged with fumbles, a missed catch and 15 wides on offer.

Robbie Davidson kept up the pace with 24 at a run a ball, but the final target of 166 from 40 overs did not look beyond Lever’s obvious capabilities.

The visitors had not reckoned with Eddy Read and Will Davidson who took a wicket each in the dramatic first two overs to set the tone for the innings. Ben Hulse then removed captain Josh Gent with a second catch for keeper Robbie Davidson, but pro Jake Lehmann was a thorn in Settle’s side.

After a break for a downpour, the Aussie left-hander was finally dismissed for 43 by Silva thanks to a sensational catch along the long-off banking by Hulse. Will Davidson (2-15) kept up the pressure, but it was Silva who spun his way to 5-15 from 6.3 overs to round off an exceptional all-round professional performance.

Lever were clearly bewildered to lose by 55 runs with ten overs in hand, but they will be back at Marshfield this Saturday for an unmissable league encounter.

Settle will now have a semi-final to look forward to, as well as a Craven T20 quarter-final at Barnoldswick this Friday.

Meanwhile in Conference North, Settle seconds dealt summarily with Barrowford who crashed to 90 all out in 30 overs. John Tarbox (2-24) took a wicket with his first ball, but it was Nick Cokell who stole the show with 5-20 from eight overs, not having bowled a ball in anger since 2015.

The match was wrapped up in 14 overs, with Paul Clarke unbeaten on 42 and 20 from Harvey Green for a win by seven wickets.