THE 2007 Romida Sykes Cup final will be a re-run of last year’s after Skelmanthorpe eased through against Delph & Dobcross when their semi-final was concluded last night.

The Lidgett Laners, who currently head the Drakes Premiership, had a scare or two along the way, but really they won the game on Sunday when bowling Delph out for just 129.

Even without opener Richard Parker, who was unable to resume his innings of 12 not out after leaving the country on holiday and work commitments, Skelmanthorpe were soon in command as Safraz Ahmed and Amit Dani both scored 23 and took the visitors to 62 before Warren Jones had the first of two successes when pinning Dani lbw.

That spelled a mini collapse as Skelmanthorpe then lost a further two wickets for six runs as Max Joice tried to chip Jones to the square leg boundary, only to be comfortably caught by Kamran Mirza, who in turn then had opener Ahmed snapped up a first slip by Mike Smethurst (68-4).

Scott Dyson rode his luck as both Irfan Zahoor and substitute fielder Howard Jones (on for the unavailable Kyle Hogg) put down chances, and along with Richard Cocking put on 39 for the fifth wicket, which virtually wrapped up the game.

It was Dyson who brought up the century with a straight drive for six onto the bowling green, but was bowled by Mirza in his next over for a top score of 26, while Cocking also heaved Mirza over the deep mid-wicket boundary for six to put Skelmanthorpe within five of victory, only to fall two balls later.

And it was left to James Dollive with two fours, in tandem with his brother and Skelmanthorpe skipper Adam to clinch victory in the 35th over, which came courtesy of a Zahoor no-ball.

Mirza finished a creditable 15-over spell with three for 47, while Warren Jones claimed two for 15.

As well as the unavailable Hogg, Delph were further hampered by the loss skipper and keeper Grant Jones, away working, Graeme Simpson taking charge and going behind the sticks, but in truth the hosts lost the game with their woeful batting display.

A delighted Adam Dollive said: “Now we’ve got back to the final, we’ve just to go one better than we did last season.”

Against double Cup winners Honley, that will not be easy.