THERE will be a new name engraved on the historic Sykes Cup this summer after Love Ablish bowled Barkisland into next month’s showpiece final against Delph & Dobcross.

The Indian quickie rocked Elland with a six-wicket haul (and a crucial catch) as the former Halifax League club virtually came back from the dead to win a fantastic semi-final by just three runs in a brilliant finish.

Despite probably the coldest day ever seen for a July Sykes Cup semi-final, and a late start due to a heavy shower, another big crowd turned up at Barkisland (receipts were over £600 for the second successive week) but looked destined for disappointment as opener Simon Wheelwright went from the second ball of Craig Fletcher’s opening over – one of six lbw decisions during the match.

And when inspirational skipper Paul Winrow followed for just 10, caught one-handed by Richard Blakey at ground level, home fans must have feared the worst.

Elland’s Australian all-rounder Cameron Borgas then struck the first of five blows when he caught and bowled Darren Robinson with his first delivery and then had an lbw decision in the 22nd over against Dave Weston upheld, after the ex-Scholes veteran had made 40.

Andrew Fraine dug in to shore up one end and finished with a valuable 39 made in 27 overs before being the last wicket to fall, while Ablish hit a six and Matt Steers two maximums as the last two wickets put on 60 for Barkisland, taking them from 115-7 to 175-9 to give the home bowlers something to defend.

Lee Baxter was an early casualty for Elland when he chased a wide delivery from Ablish and was snapped up by Winrow at first slip, but then it was all about Ryan Robinson and Blakey, who both batted intelligently, putting away the occasional bad ball and picking off the singles as they moved to 83-1 at the halfway point and then brought up the 100 with a beautiful drive through mid-off by Blakey in the 29th over.

The former Yorkshire and England player gave one half chance when he glanced an Ablish delivery which Winrow got some fingers to but couldn’t hang on, but otherwise the two ex-county men moved the score inexorably closer to their target.

Robinson brought up his 50 in the 31st over, but then suddenly the game took a massive twist.

On the very next delivery, Robinson tried to pull a shortish delivery from Tinashe Panyangara, only for Ablish to pluck it out of the air on the backward square leg boundary and the Indian threw Barkisland another lifeline when he trapped Blakey leg before in his next over.

And when he also got the decision over both Rob Laycock and Borgas, Elland were suddenly 123-5 after 36 overs, and – much the same as last week when Golcar hit back against Delph – it had now turned into a compelling Cup-tie.

Craig Fletcher, who had earlier bowled so well to finish with fine figures of four for 38, was next to go, as Ablish flattened his stumps and with his next delivery he gained his fourth lbw decision to send back skipper Gary Jakeman.

With Jimmy Thornton still in the middle, Elland were still in the game, particularly as both Panyangara and Ablish were bowled out (there is a 15-over restriction in Cup matches) but by now Elland needed 33 to win off the last 30 balls.

A six onto the road by Thornton eased the pressure, but a direct hit from Simon Wheelwright accounted for the big-hitting left-hander and it was down to keeper Greg Finn and No10 Danny Rhodes to try and bring them home, but 12 required off the last over from Matt Steers was a big ask.

A squirted four and three singles left the visitors needing four off the last ball to tie, and Rhodes cracked a great cover drive, only to see Ben Schofield pull off a tremendous stop on the edge to restrict them to one and send Barkisland to their first-ever final.

“I’m just over the moon,” said victorious skipper Winrow, adding: “an hour and a half from the end, I thought we were dead and buried.”