Four-midable Burnley create Worsley Cup history

Captain Bharat Tripathi lifted the coveted piece of silverware for an unprecedented fourth time in succession as the holders beat Haslingden by six wickets on home soil.

Brown, who earned the man of the match accolade when the two sides met in the final three years ago, was a spectator on this occasion but that didn’t take any of the gloss off the latest success.

Two wickets apiece for the skipper, Jhangir Liaqat, Cole Hayman and Mick Midwood restricted the visitors to a 170-9 total.

In response, Vishal Tripathi starred with the bat as he made 56 from 40 balls.

The 28-year-old opener combined with professional Chris Holt in a 72-run stand for the opening wicket.

David Brown added a knock of 42 to the equation while Dan Pickup (19 not out) and Chris Burton, who finished unbeaten on eight, saw the champions over the line.

“The best team won and there were great celebrations at the end to cap it,” said Brown.

“We were better in all departments and bowled really well after losing the toss.

“We restricted them to a score that was never going to be good enough on that track and we just didn’t take our foot off the gas. It was comfortable in the end.

“It’s a really impressive achievement and the history books will tell you that.

“When you look at the strength of our team now, though, this has become the expectation.

“With the quality that we harbour we should be reaching finals and competing for trophies.

“It’s a change that’s been happening over the last seven or eight years.”

Brown added: “We haven’t lost a game in this competition for four years. To have been so dominant for that amount of time is a pretty special achievement.

“This would be pretty tough to beat really, especially when you consider that nobody had won it more than twice in a row before.”