HEMINGBROUGH emerged from a thrilling run-laden battle with Burn II to secure a place in the final of the York Vale League's Scothern Construction Cup.

They will now meet Sessay, who comfortably defeated Pocklington by 44 runs.

After electing to bat, Hemingbrough were restricted to 32-1 after 10 overs but a timely return to form for skipper Johnny Cockerill (80) and Leo Howard (68) got the scoreboard moving.

They put on 112 for the third wicket in 14 overs. It was Howard’s second half-century in as many days and was followed by cameos by Matt Bradshaw (23) and Dave Cockerill (27).

Bryn Roberts (4-35) put a sharp halt to the innings with three wickets in the last over as Hemingbrough were bowled out for 255.

Burn’s reply got off to a good start and at the fall of the first wicket - Ray Adamson departing for a rapid 51 after holing out - they were in front of the clock at 90-1.

Steve Cruise (40) and Norman Elliott (77) then put them right in contention by adding 68 for the second wicket, and Elliott and Tom Harland (32) put on 84 for the third as Burn climbed to 222-2.

Elliott was then bowled by a slower ball by Bradshaw (2-59) and Hemingbrough’s bowlers wrestled control and swung the game back in their favour.

Excellent death bowling by Bradshaw and 18-year-old Sam Easthill left Burn needing 18 to win off the last over. They could only manage three from Easthill’s spin and ended up short on 241-6.

In the other semi-final, Sessay got off to a solid start against Pocklington with openers John Flintoff (73) and Alex Fenwick (28) taking the score to 66 before Fenwick departed to one that kept low.

Flintoff played a solid innings to keep the scoreboard ticking over as his side finished on 160 in 39.3 overs.

It was an excellent bowling and fielding display from Pock’s youngsters, with a total of 25.3 of the 40 overs being bowled by under-13s players - Archie Wilcock (10-0-48-3), Henry Sumner (10-3-33-3) and Freddie Hara (5.3 -0 -11-3).

Pocklington lost three early wickets in reply with the score on seven to put them on the backfoot. Richard Bower was the exception with some hard hitting in a quick-fire 55.

Pock lost a steady flow of wickets against some fine bowling, particularly from Andrew Dawson who had figures of 5-3-7-4. James Dennis and Ian Watkinson also took two wickets apiece with Niamh Hall removing the final two batsmen to give Sessay victory by 44 runs with nine overs left.