Two points deducted for Chorley
The father and son combination of David and Andrew Makinson will be aiming to keep Leyland on top |
Chorley have been deducted two points after not achieving the minimum over rate in their win over Preston at Windsor Park last Saturday.
Meanwhile, 3D Sports Northern Premier League leaders Leyland have an opportunity to consolidate their position over the May Bank Holiday weekend with successive home fixtures.
On Saturday Leyland entertain Barrow while on Monday reigning champions St Annes visit Fox Lane.
Leyland emerged from Morecambe last Saturday with a winning draw from a rain-affected game with Pakistan professional Ameer Khan again in top form. He hit the Leyland top score of 42 and followed up with a bowling spell of 5 for 34, including four clean-bowled.
Lancaster moved up to second on Saturday after a winning draw at Carnforth. Jamie Heywood hit 65 for Lancaster and forms a trio of talented teenagers all in fine form alongside all-rounder Mike Stevens and opening bowler Daniel Milligan. They host Blackpool this Saturday who emerged victorious from a low-scoring game against Kendal at Stanley Park. Andy Hogarth took his second five-wicket haul of the summer to help bowl out Kendal for 89 with Blackpool getting home by two wickets.
On Monday there's an eagerly-awaited local derby at Lune Road as Lancaster play Morecambe.
Fourth-placed Kendal have a chance to make amends when they entertain Darwen on Saturday. South African professional Ross McMillan has made a big impression so far with both bat and ball and has soon settled into life in the town.
St Annes, beaten heavily at Netherfield last Saturday, play Morecambe on Saturday with all-rounder Stephen Twist in fine form. But despite his 52 and 4 for 64 St Annes lost by 124 runs at Netherfield last Saturday.
Chorley's batsmen hit form with a four-wicket win over Preston, Jamie Tolley, Nigel Eastham and Mike Critchley all hitting half-centuries as they overhauled Preston's total of 213 for 9. But they travel to Fleetwood for whom Mike Clinning was in impressive form at the weekend. Clinning hit the season's second century and followed up with four wickets in his side's winning draw at Barrow.
Preston host Carnforth looking to recapture the form that saw them finish fifth last year. Despite their string of talented amateurs and a top professional in Bilal Asad, Preston start the Bank Holiday programme joint bottom with Fleetwood and have no fixture on Monday.
Carnforth opening bowler Robert Parker hit a superb 65 not out as his side finished ten runs short in a run chase against Lancaster. On Monday Carnforth are at home to Barrow.
Netherfield, who have hit good batting form lately, sit out Saturday's games before making the short journey to play neighbours Kendal on Monday.
It's derby day on Monday with other fixtures featuring Blackpool against Fleetwood at Stanley Park while Darwen host Chorley at Birch Lane.
FIXTURES SATURDAY 24 MAY
DIVISION ONE
Fleetwood v Chorley
Kendal v Darwen
Leyland v Barrow
Lancaster v Blackpool
Preston v Carnforth
St Annes v Morecambe
Netherfield no game
DIVISION TWO (2nd XI)
Barrow v Leyland
Blackpool v Lancaster
Carnforth v Preston
Chorley v Fleetwood
Darwen v Kendal
Morecambe v St Annes
Netherfield no game
TEAM NEWS:
FLEETWOOD v CHORLEY
The Fleetwood 1st XI is: W Clarke (Capt), N Coultas, T Wilson, J Ellis, M Emsley, A Parker, M Clinning, M Clark, L Jones (WK), T Blundell, N Rupasinghe (pro)
It will be the same squad for Monday with Adam Sharrocks added to the above eleven.
Mike Clinning hit a fine hundred for Fleetwood last weekend |
KENDAL v DARWEN
The Kendal team is: Ikram Ullah (C andWk); Kevin Howarth; Terry Hunte; Oliver Killiner; Donovan Du Plessis; Nick Lewthwaite; Tony Yasin; Ben Simm; Stuart Parkin; Sam Cooper; Ross McMillan (pro).
Last week's batting debacle at Stanley Park has been laid to rest and Kendal take the option of an extra spinner in the form of Sam Cooper into the weekend's matches, says Kendal's Dave Sykes.
We will be hoping for a fine and sunny weekend particularly for the Derby Match on Monday against Netherfield.
Darwen: 1. A Cook (Capt) 2. C Clarke 3. G Cordingley 4. J Cordingley 5. N Burke 6. J Clarke (WK) 7. S Hampson 8. M Emery 9. K Anwar 10. Y Bhamji 11. A Ashraf (pro).
Darwen are unchanged for Monday's home game against Chorley.
Darwen 2nd XI: 1. G Jackson (Captain) 2. G Ainslie 3. D Bonner 4. C Davies 5. M Clarkson 6. N Jackson 7. M Grant 8. M Bennett 9. S Jackson 10. A Davies 11. K Vallimulla.
LEYLAND v BARROW
David Makinson, the Leyland captain, reports: Regarding next weekend, hopefully we can continue to pile on the points. In general we are playing OK, but as I've said many times before, there isn't a single player, with the bat, who cannot perform much better. It's almost as though we've forgotten how to get a big score, I am 100percent certain the ability is there, once our batting really clicks we should get some pretty big scores.
Leyland are once again unchanged for both Sat and Mon: K Cross; C Parkinson; P Cummings; Ameer Khan (pro); J Rounding; A Makinson; I Farrington; T Reece; D Makinson (capt), M Watkinson (WK); S Pallett;
The Barrow side reads: D Wearing (Capt); I Allington; L Livingstone; G Heffernan; P Wilcock; G Dawson; D Clark; J Miles; I Kermode; R Lightfoot;
P Wanasinghe (pro)
For Monday's visit to Carnforth J Nicholson replaces L Livingstone.
LANCASTER v BLACKPOOL
Lancaster: R Nelson; M Stevens; T Umar (pro); J Heywood; J Turton; M Walling; D Heywood (Capt); B Hetherington (WK); T Barry; L Milligan; L Moffat.
For Monday's game with Morecambe L Phillips replaces B Hetherington.
Blackpool spokesman Andy Griffiths reports-
On Saturday, our 1st XI face a tough trip to 2nd in the table Lancaster, who have a number of in-form players, with Michael Stevens and ex-Blackpool legend Tim Barry, both having scored in excess of 200 runs and taken 7 and 6 wickets respectively, plus Jamie Heywood (115 runs), Danny Milligan (13 wickets) and Michael Walling (8 wickets).
This will be a true test for the Blackpool bowling attack which has been so impressive so far this season, and a tough ask for the batsmen who have yet to find any semblance of form. Captain Paul Danson has resisted the temptation for change, and is placing his faith in the batsmen to come good. Subject to the result of a fitness test on Alex Smith who injured his ankle last Saturday, the following eleven will take the field:
Danson (capt), Darlington, Gleeson, Hogarth (A), Moore, Outram, Penney, Reece, Smith (A), Smith (J) (w/k), Weerakoon (pro)
The in-form 2nd team vice-captain, Steve Mercer, will be on stand-by should Alex fail his fitness test. Steven Croft, who we had hoped would be available for this game, is performing 12th man duties for England in the 2nd Test at Old Trafford.
On Monday, attentions turn to the Bank Holiday Derby against Fleetwood, who after finishing rock-bottom last year have started the season in the same vein, currently propping up the table. However, Fleetwood do possess some good players and will not be taken lightly. With former Blackpool players, Mike Clinning and Adam Parker, keen to impress and both hitting form at the right time, and with their professional Nishita Rupasinghe keen to out-perform his friend and country-man Sajeewah Weerakoon, this will a tough game.
Blackpool will select from 12 with Steven Croft added to Saturday's eleven. However, Mike Watkinson has not yet confirmed that Steven will be available to play.
The 2nd XI host Lancaster on Saturday, and with a second 15-point win at Kendal last week, will be looking to improve their position at the top of the table (currently 4th) and mount a title challenge this season.
Lancaster posses some very good players, and in Parkinson and Welbourne have 2 of the best batsmen in the 2nd Division. With Sparrow (13 wickets) and Moralee (11 wickets) finding form with the ball, this will be a keenly contested game. Blackpool name 12 to select from, and welcome back into the squad Prashant Aga (following work commitments), Chris Taylor (who is home from Nottingham University for the weekend) and Jamie Hogarth who was an injury absentee last weekend. Will Norris is unavailable.
12 to be selected from - Griffiths (capt) (w/k), Aga, Armstrong, Booth, Bracewell, Caunce, Hogarth (J), Melville, Mercer, Newton, Taylor (C), Wall
On Monday, Blackpool take the short journey up the coast to Fleetwood where Mark Emsley (242 runs) has been in inspired form with the bat so far this season. Whilst by no means a one-man team, Fleetwood are struggling for consistency in selection, and the onus is very much on their captain to score the bulk of the runs, although Joe Bell (127 runs) found some form last weekend. Andy Armstrong, Blackpool's spear-head, will be looking forward to a return to Fleetwood where he took all 10 wickets in the corresponding league match last season.
Blackpool have selection problems of a different kind with a 14-man squad named for the local derby - Griffiths (capt) (w/k), Aga, Armstrong, Booth, Bracewell, Caunce, Hogarth (J), Melville, Mercer, Newton, Parker, Taylor (C), Wall, AN Other.
Preston's impressive opening bowler Rhys Williams |
PRESTON v CARNFORTH
Preston field the same team as Sunday's Cockspur Cup defeat at Kendal apart from Bilal Asad in for Omar Malik and 15 year old Fayaz Ughradar making his 1st team debut in place of Yasin Patel who is unavailable on Saturday.
Team: P Mann; S Patel; J Davies; L Vahaluwala; M Bafla; J McDonald; F Ughradar; J Hussain; C Williams (WK); R Williams; Bilal Asad (Capt and pro).
Preston have no game on Bank Holiday Monday.
Adam Cowperthwaite will return for Carnforth |
Carnforth's selections are as follows:
1st team: A Hornby (capt); J Whincup (wkt); R Bailey (pro); D Moore; A Cowperthwaite; B Hornby; T ; Barnfield; L Bradley; R Parker; B Harrison; J Denwood.
2nd team: L Potter (capt); A Benson (wkt); M Bradley; J Relph; G Denwood; S Tomlinson; R Forsyth; G Baxendale; R Bragg; R Gallagher; J Gibson
On Monday Carnforth are at home Barrow and their selection is:
1st team: A Hornby (capt); J Whincup (wkt); R Bailey (pro); D Moore; A Cowperthwaite; B Hornby; T Barnfield; L Bradley; R Parker; B Harrison; J Denwood
The Carnforth 2nd XI for Monday reads:
L Potter (capt); A Benson (wkt); M Bradley; J Relph; G Denwood; L Barnes; R Forsyth; G Russell; G Baxendale; S Tomlinson; M Preston
There is a Neil Darby Memorial 20-20 cricket match which is this coming Friday (23 May) starting at 6pm and followed by a grand raffle draw and live music from Aceface.
Carnforth have also confirmed the following League 20-20 fixtures:
Friday 6th June Lancaster -v- Carnforth
Friday 13th June Carnforth -v- Lancaster
ST ANNES v MORECAMBE:
St Annes: D Whalley (Captain WK); N Bradley; R Bradley; P Jackson; Z Patel; A Taylor; D Taylor; S Twist; A Uz-Zaman; G Whitehead; Mansoor Ahmed (Pro).
St Annes are unchanged for the visit to Leyland on Monday.
Morecambe 1st XI: Lomas (c ); Goyal; Thornton; Woodhead; Dennison; Pedder; Smith; Gudgeon (WK); Lee; Gates; Martin(pro)
For Monday's trip to Lancaster Morecambe's team is:
Lomas (C ); Goyal; Edge; Woodhead; Dennison; Pedder; Clough; Gudgeon (WK); Lee; Gates; Martin(pro)
Netherfield have no game on Saturday but have named the following sides for Monday against Kendal:
1st XI:
Parry (C ), Walmsley, Haddrick, Prime, Baker, Little, Clement, Miller, Hadwin, Wilson, Ferguson (Pro)
2ndXI:
Winder, Hyland, Chambers, Barton, Hartley, Stafford, Davidson, Mackenzie, Jones, Barrow, Dixon
Derby day on Monday
FIXTURES MONDAY 26 MAY
DIVISION ONE
Blackpool v Fleetwood
Carnforth v Barrow
Darwen v Chorley
Kendal v Netherfield
Leyland v St Annes
Lancaster v Morecambe
Preston no game
DIVISION TWO (2nd XI)
Barrow v Carnforth
Chorley v Darwen
Fleetwood v Blackpool
Morecambe v Lancaster
Netherfield v Kendal
St Annes v Leyland
Preston no game
