LOWERHOUSE smashed their way into the last four of the Moorhouse’s Lancashire League Twenty20 as they turned in a quite remarkable display of power hitting to upset their odds at Colne.

The defending champions were clinging onto their trophy by their fingernails and knew they had to beat Colne – and beat them big – especially as Haslingden’s rained off game at Edenfield saw them win Group B and demote Ramsbottom into second spot but into pole position to qualify as best runners-up thanks to their supreme run-rate.

And when Colne batted first and piled up a daunting 166-3 from just 16 overs, the House were starting down the barrel.

Not only did they need to win but they had to score quickly to pull back the 0.4 of a run deficit on inactive Rammy.

But it took Lowerhouse just 10.4 overs to chase down that big score with professional Cobus Pienaar hitting a 14-ball half-century.

The South African clubbed four sixes and seven ours and when he fell for 60 the scored was already 108 with Pienaar facing just 18 balls in total.

Jonny Whitehead was also free scoring and made a brilliant 72 as be blasted seven sixes and four fours from just 33 balls in total.

Earlier Colne sub-pro Shadley van Schalkwyk hit 59 and Alex White 56 as Colne threatened a huge upset.

In Group A, Church on their shoot-out with Accrington to book their place in the last four.

The semi-finals will take place next Friday with Lowerhouse travelling to Nelson, who won all their four group games, with Haslingden hosting Church in the other semi-final.