2 versus 3 at Woodhill Lane
Lancaster's professional, Pakistan Test player Taufeeq Umar |
3D Sports Northern Premier League leaders Leyland travel to Netherfield on Saturday looking to consolidate their 14-point advantage over second-placed Kendal.
David Makinson's side enjoyed a marvellous Bank Holiday weekend with successive victories against Barrow and reigning champions St Annes, both times after batting second.
Their Pakistan professional Ameer Khan has scored 306 runs at 76 and taken 26 wickets so far.
But Netherfield, after a poor start to the season, have shown signs of rediscovering their best form in recent games.
Kendal legend Terry Hunte will be looking forward to the trip to Morecambe |
The game of the day could be at Woodhill Lane where third-placed Morecambe entertain Kendal. Skipper Mark Lomas steered Morecambe to a convincing win at derby rivals Lancaster on Monday with 68 not out and currently averages 61 for the season.
Morecambe recovered well after their mauling in the field by St Annes just two days before with opening bowler Jono Gates particularly impressive.
Kendal professional Ross McMillan has been in top form with both bat and ball and has so far scored 323 runs at an average of 64 and taken 25 wickets.
But Kendal are far from a one-man team, proven by veteran Kevin Howarth's hat-trick that helped defeat Darwen last Saturday.
Morecambe's Jono Gates has bowled impressively so far this season |
Chorley have hit form since Friedel de Wet arrived from South Africa and the professional has taken 26 wickets so far including three five-wicket hauls. Wicket-keeper/opening batsman Josh Tolley has hit 284 runs at 47, including four fifties in an impressive start to the campaign.
Jack Catterall's side will need both key players to be on their mettle for the visit of fifth-placed Lancaster. Mike Stevens has hit three fifties for Lancaster so far with fellow teenager Daniel Milligan on 15 wickets.
Darwen find themselves in the unusual position of eleventh and face a stiff task against improving Blackpool who moved up to fifth after a crushing derby win over Fleetwood.
Fresh from their run-chase victory at Carnforth, Barrow take on reigning champions St Annes at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground. St Annes former Pakistan Test wicket-keeper Atiq Uz-Zaman hit a superb 157 against Morecambe last Saturday.
But Barrow pro Pasan Wanasinghe is again in top form with 327 runs and 23 wickets so far.
The league's bottom two sides meet at Broadwater. Fleetwood are struggling for runs and Preston, mis-firing after finishing fifth last year, may well just need one good result to kick-start their season.
Carnforth's South African professional Ryan Bailey hit 211 runs at the weekend without being dismissed and leads the league's batting averages with 363 runs at 90. But to the relief of long-suffering bowlers it is the turn of Carnforth to take a weekend off.
Team news to follow when available.
Preston opener Sajid Patel will be hoping to kick-start his side's season at Fleetwood |
FIXTURES SATURDAY 31st MAY
DIVISION ONE
Barrow v St Annes
Chorley v Lancaster
Darwen v Blackpool
Fleetwood v Preston
Netherfield v Leyland
Morecambe v Kendal
Carnforth no game
DIVISION TWO (2nd XI)
Blackpool v Darwen
Kendal v Morecambe
Lancaster v Chorley
Leyland v Netherfield
Preston v Fleetwood
St Annes v Barrow
Carnforth no game
TEAM NEWS:
BARROW v St ANNES
Reigning champions St Annes take a weakened side to Barrow: D Whalley (C/WK), Mansoor Ahmed (pro), N Bradley, R Bradley, J Musgrave, Z Patel, A Taylor, D Taylor, Atiq Uz-Zaman, G Whitehead, B Willis.
The St Annes 2nd XI features Stephen Twist. Team: A Kellett (c ), S Bickerdike, N Bolus, G Costin, A Cotton, D Hartley, P Jackson, L O'Dea, R Thomas, S Twist, D Watson (WK).
CHORLEY v LANCASTER
Lancaster wicket-keeper Brendan Hetherington returns after missing the Morecambe game due to work commitments.
The Lancaster team is: R Nelson, T Umar (pro), M Stevens, T Barry, J Heywood, M Walling, J Turton, B Hetherington (WK), D Heywood (C ), D Milligan, L Moffat.
DARWEN v BLACKPOOL
The Darwen side is: A Cook (capt); C Clarke; G Cordingley; J Cordingley; N Burke; J Clarke (WK); S Hampson; G Jackson; K Anwar; Y Bhamji; Atif Ashraf (pro)
Blackpool spokeman Andy Griffiths reports:
On Saturday our 1st XI travel to Darwen with a side showing one change from the team which comprehensively beat Fleetwood at Stanley Park on Bank Holiday Monday.
Fitness and Fielding Coach, Michael Moore, returns in place of Steven Croft who is on Lancashire duty. Team: Danson (capt), Darlington, Gleeson, Hogarth (A), Mercer, Moore, Outram, Reece, Smith (A), Smith (J) (w/k), Weerakoon (pro).
Our second XI host Darwen, and with a maximum haul of 30 points over the Bank Holiday Weekend, will be looking to maintain their push for the top spot. Michael Taylor, on his return from University, replaces his brother Chris (back at University for the next 2 weeks) in an otherwise unchanged team. David Booth will undergo a late fitness test on Friday, young leg spinner Nathan Bird stands by.
Team: Griffiths (capt) (w/k), Aga, Armstrong, Booth, Bracewell, Hogarth (J), Melville, Newton, Penney, Taylor (M), Wall.
FLEETWOOD v PRESTON
The Fleetwood side reads: W Clarke (capt), T Wilson, J Ellis, M Clinning, A Parker, A Singleton, M Clark, L Jones (WK), T Blundell, M Emsley, N Rupasinghe (pro)
MORECAMBE v KENDAL
The Morecambe side sees Phil Thonton return after missing the game at Lancaster on Monday:
Lomas (capt ); Dennison; Thornton; Woodhead; Goyal; Pedder; Clough; Gudgeon; Lee; Gates; Martin(pro)
The Kendal team is: Ikram Ullah (C/ WK); Kevin Howarth; Terry Hunte; Oliver Killiner; Donovan Du Plessis; Gareth Ashburner; Nick Lewthwaite; Tony Yasin; Ben Simm; Stuart Parkin; Ross McMillan (pro).
NETHERFIELD v LEYLAND
Netherfield: C.Parry (capt), C.Walmsley, T.Prime, S.Little, B.Haddrick, G.Baker, S.Clement, C.Miller, M.Hadwin, R.Wilson, C. Ferguson (Pro)
Leyland: K Cross; C Parkinson; P Cummings; Ameer Khan (pro); I Farrington; T Reece; J Rounding; A Makinson; M Watkinson (WK); D Makinson (capt); S Pallett
On Sunday several 3D Sports Northern Premier League teams are in cup action.
Carnforth travel to Haverigg for a Cumbria Cup game.
In the ECB Cockspur Cup third round the ties include a clash between Barrow and Fleetwood at the Ernest Pass Memorial Ground while Netherfield take on Blackpool's conquerors, Bolton League side Horwich RMI. Hyde from the Cheshire League travel to Fox Lane to play Leyland while Kendal's reward for beating Preston is a home tie against Lytham from the Liverpool Competition:
Netherfield v Horwich RMI
Leyland v Hyde
Barrow v Fleetwood
Kendal v Lytham
The Fleetwood side is: W Clarke, T Wilson, J Ellis, A Parker, A Singleton, M Clark, L Jones, T Blundell, A Breakall, J Wilson, A Sharrocks.
For Netherfield, there are four changes to Saturday's side: R.Girdhari, O.Hill, T.Barton and P.Hartley replace Prime, Little, Miller and Ferguson.
In the Kendal side Sam Cooper comes in for Kev Howarth and Stu Nelson replaces Ross McMillan.
Leyland field the same side as Saturday except S Cartwright replaces pro Ameer Khan.
