Leaders Leyland face Morecambe test
Barrow batsman Ian Allington writes in with a timely reminder |
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Team news:
BARROW v FLEETWOOD
Barrow Team: D Wearing (C ); I Allington; L Livingstone; C Brookshaw; P Wilcock; G Dawson; D Clark; J Miles; I Kermode; R Lightfoot; P Wanasinghe (pro)
On Sunday Barrow travel to play Bolton League side Eagley in the ECB Cockspur Cup.
Their team reads: D Wearing (c ); L Livingstone; C Brookshaw (WK); P Wilcock; I Kermode; R Lightfoot; G Reynolds; G Heffernan; G Kermode; G Smith, AN Other
The Barrow 2nd XI selection for Saturday's game at Fleetwood reads:
R Mowat (C ); G Reynolds; R Adams; G Heffernan; G Kermode; J Tweddle; P Riley; N Lauderdale; J McMenemy; J Nicholson; GJ Allington
Barrow stalwart Ian Allington writes: Just a little footnote to our game on Saturday at Lancaster. Although we didn't play too well, and Lancaster fully deserved their victory, things were put into perspective when one of cars travelling to the game was involved in a very close miss, a car pulling out into their path, resulting in several 360 degree spins and the car skipping the verge and crashing into the central reservation. None of lads were hurt but were shaken up quite badly. Although we only came away with a point from the game, at least we came home with eleven players. Just a reminder to everyone to take care when travelling.
The Fleetwood team is: Team for Saturday v Barrow: W Clarke (capt), J Ellis, T Wilson, M Clinning, A Parker, A Sharrocks, M Clark, L Jones, J Latus, T Blundell, N Rupasinghe (Pro).
Fleetwood's team v Keswick (ECB Cockspur Cup, national knockout) on Sunday at Fleetwood (1pm) is: W Clarke (Capt), J Ellis, T Wilson, M Emsley, A Parker, A Sharrocks, M Clark, L Jones, A Breakall, T Blundell, J Latus
BLACKPOOL v KENDAL
Blackpool spokesman Andy Griffiths writes:
Our first XI welcome Kendal to Stanley Park this Saturday, and will be looking to build on the improved batting performances displayed on Sunday in the National Knockout first round. With the pitches improving with the dry weather, a new groundsman at the helm, and a rested professional who is keen to impress after 4 wickets and 31 not out in a sub-professional engagement for Farnworth in the Bolton Cricket League last Saturday, Blackpool will be looking to fire in all three disciplines against a Kendal side who possess the well known threats of Ullah, Howarth and Hunte, but also some fresh blood in a new professional McMillan, and unknown amateurs Lewthwaite and Du Plessis.
The Blackpool line-up is full of batsmen who are maybe good for 20 or 30, but who need to turn starts into good scores and bat for long periods of time, taking responsibility out in the middle and delivering a better standard of performance. The signs are that some are starting to find their feet, they are certainly practising hard enough, and with two games this weekend this will be a good opportunity for the lads to build on a fairly average start with the bat. Craig Outram currently tops the run charts with 89 runs at 29.67. On the other hand the amateur bowling effort to date has been excellent, with Andy Hogarth taking 16 wickets at 7.81, Richard Gleeson 11 wickets at 15.45, Luis Reece 10 wickets at 14.20 and Paul Danson 7 wickets at 12.29. Sadly, our sub-professionals have not been up to the standards we would expect, with 4 wickets at 28.75 and 18 runs in 3 knocks
The performance levels of the bowlers need to be raised even higher as the wickets become more batsmen friendly, but with our contracted professional Sajeewah Weerakoon added to the mix this line-up will be amongst the best in the league.
Team for Saturday is - Danson (capt), Darlington, Gleeson, Hogarth (A), Moore, Outram, Penney, Reece, Smith (A), Smith (J) (w/k), Weerakoon (pro)
On Sunday, Blackpool travel to Horwich from the Bolton Cricket League, in the ECB Cockspur Cup Second Round. Horwich have not had the best of starts to the season, on the wrong end of a 178 run defeat last Saturday with Bradshaw's openers running amok, and certainly will not be as strong as the last time the sides met on a wind-swept day 5 or 6 years back when Horwich were victorious. Blackpool make two enforced changes with Weerakoon ineligible and Michael Moore working; Jamie Hogarth joins brother Andy in the team on the back of a fine 2nd XI debut (5-21 versus Preston) and 2nd XI vice-captain Steve Mercer is rewarded for a fine start to the season (158 runs at 39.50 and 4 wickets at 8.00). Luke Melville and Dave Newton, who played in the 1st Round win over Longridge are left out.
The 2nd XI travel to Kendal on Saturday, with a side full of senior players (some of whom are in the twilight of their careers!) and a sprinkling of youth. With designs on breaking into the top 4 this season (currently 4th) Saturday is a must-win game against a team who surprisingly find themselves at the bottom of the league.
Team for Saturday is - Griffiths (capt) (w/k), Armstrong, Booth, Bracewell, Caunce, Hogarth (J), Melville, Mercer, Newton, Norris, Wall
The Kendal side is: Ikram Ullah (Cap/Wk); Kevin Howarth; Terry Hunte; Oliver Killiner; Donovan Du Plessis; Nick Lewthwaite; Tony Yasin; Ben Simm; Stuart Parkin; Stuart Nelson; Ross McMillan (Pro)
Pro Ryan Bailey will lead Carnforth's challenge against Lancaster (D Sykes) |
CARNFORTH v LANCASTER
Carnforth's side is: First XI- A Hornby (Capt); J Whincup (Wkt); R Bailey (Pro); D Moore; R Parker; L Bradley; W Quinn; J Denwood; T Barnfield; B Harrison; G DenwoodCarnforth's Second XI reads: L Potter (Capt); A Benson (Wkt); M Bradley; J Relph; R Forsyth; L Barnes; G Russell; G Baxendale; R Bragg; S Tomlinson; M Preston
CHORLEY v PRESTON
The Preston team for Saturday at Chorley is the same as last week's cup-tie against Unsworth apart from Yasin Patel returning for Omar Malik.
On Sunday Preston are away at Kendal in the ECB Cockspur Cup second round (1pm start). Omar Malik returns in place of Bilal Asad (as professionals are not allowed to play in the competition). Rhys Williams will be captaining the side.
Preston: S Patel; Bilal Asad (Pro, capt); J Davies; L Vahaluwala; M Bavla; J McDonald; Y Patel; P Mann; C Williams (wkt); J Hussain; R Wiliams.
Morecambe pro Bruce Martin is settling in well at Woodhill Lane |
MORECAMBE v LEYLAND
The Morecambe side is unchanged: Lomas (C ); Thornton; Goyal; Woodhead; Dennison; Pedder; Clough; Gudgeon (WK); Lee; Gates; Martin (pro)
On Sunday Morecambe are at Dalton in the ECB Cockspur Cup. Their team selection is: Lomas (C ); Pedder; Goyal; Woodhead; Lee; Gudgeon (WK); Cassidy; Thistlethwaite; Milner; Edge; Fisher.
Leyland are unchanged: D Makinson (Capt); A Makinson; K Cross; C Parkinson; P Cummings; Ameer Khan (pro); I Farrington; J Rounding; T Reece; M Watkinson (WK); S Pallett.
On Sunday Leyland are at home to Chester Boughton Hall in the ECB Cockspur Cup (1pm). S Cartwright and L Shackleton replace S Pallett and Ameer Khan.
Leyland pro Ameer Khan is in top form with bat and ball |
Netherfield close to full strength
NETHERFIELD v ST ANNES
For Netherfield Rishie Girdhari, Chris Miller, Simon Little and pro Callum Ferguson come in for Graeme Baker, Shane Hyland Stuart Nixon & John Huck from Sunday's victory over St Annes in the Cockspur Cup for the return League fixture this weekend.
The team reads: Chris Parry (Capt), Craig Walmsley, Simon Little, Tommy Prime WK), Ben Haddrick, Rishie Girdhari, Marc Hadwin, Ryan Wilson, Scott Clement, Chris Miller, Callum Ferguson (Pro)
The Netherfield 2ndXI selection is: Phil Hartley (capt), Steve Jones, Graeme Baker, Shane Hyland, Stuart Nixon, Oliver Hill, Robin Mackenzie, Stuart Dixon, Tom Barton, Dan Davidson, Josh Stafford
Darwen no game.
On Sunday Darwen are at home to Roe Green in the ECB Cockspur Cup. Their team is: A Cook (Capt); G Jackson; S Jackson; J Cordingley; N Burke; M Clarkson; S Hampson; M Emery; K Anwar; Y Bhamji; C Clarke
Leaders Leyland travel to Woodhill Lane to take on fourth-placed Morecambe in the game of the day next Saturday.
Leyland were frustrated by Darwen at Fox Lane, having to be content with a winning draw as Darwen finished 20 runs short on 153 for 9. Ameer Khan, the Leyland professional, top-scored with 70 and followed up with 4 for 63.
Pro Bruce Martin hit 48 and Graham Lee took 4 for 38 as Morecambe won at Preston, skipper Mark Lomas making 67 not out.
Second placed St Annes, the reigning champions, are at improving Netherfield who should be back to full strength after suffering from players being absent due to work, football, rugby and school commitments. St Annes had a four-wicket win over Chorley, Stephen Twist again in top form with bat and ball, while Netherfield won by 9 wickets at bottom club Fleetwood, Scott Clement taking five wickets and pro Callum Ferguson four as the home side were bowled out for 90.
Third-placed Kendal travel to Stanley Park with new pro Ross McMillan in top form. The South African took 7 for 15 and hit 44 not out in his side's resounding nine wicket win over Carnforth. Blackpool had no game last Saturday.
Chorley's South African pro Friedel de Wet has taken 12 wickets in his first three games and will face the season's only centurion so far, Preston stand-in skipper and pro Bilal Asad at Windsor Park.
Lancaster, with all-rounder Mike Stevens and opening bowler Danny Milligan in top form travel to take on Carnforth with Ryan Nelson returning to his former club.
Fleetwood's Sri Lankan pro Nisitha Rupasinghe already has two five-wicket hauls this season and will be pitting his wits against fellow countryman, Barrow pro Passan Wanasinghe at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground.
It's Darwen's turn to sit out a round of games before the double header programme next weekend with fixtures on Sat 24 and Mon 26 May.
DIVISION TWO (2nd XI) (1-00pm)
Fleetwood v Barrow
Kendal v Blackpool
Lancaster v Carnforth
Leyland v Morecambe
Preston v Chorley
St Annes v Netherfield
Darwen no game
