Cumberland call-up for Morecambe's Chris Williams
Morecambe's Chris Williams makes his Cumberland debut on Sunday
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Early season leaders of the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) Netherfield hope to welcome South African professional Brady Barends for Saturday's visit to Morecambe.
Chris Parry's side has won three and draw two of their opening five matches so far whilst waiting for the arrival of the highly-rated Barends, even defeating Carnforth last weekend without the services of a sub-professional.
Chris Parry has led Netherfield to the top of Division One
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But Netherfield were heavily defeated at Morecambe in the ECB National Club Championship last Sunday with Danny Welbourne (63) and Ryan Pearson (72no) playing superbly with the bat and Gert Maartens (5/34) and Usman Alam (2/9) bowling brilliantly.
Usman Alam has been among the wickets for Morecambe
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The Darwen-Leyland game is an intriguing affair with defending Champions Leyland blowing hot and cold so far. They beat Morecambe convincingly on Saturday but then lost at Bolton League Bradshaw one day later. Darwen are unbeaten so far but have fallen just short in run chases in their last two games. Their pro Mohammad Zaman Khan is cleared after a suspected broken finger at Barrow.
Carnforth will again have the services of 64-year-old legendary bowler Mel Whittle against Chorley. The Chorley Secretary Peter Mockett is looking forward to meeting up again with his old pal having played together, he says, in a veterans' football game in the 1970s!
Kendal pro Jamie How made his debut in his side's win over the Colts last Sunday and faces a Preston side with all-rounder/captain Lukman Vahaluwala in top form. St Annes, who suffered a disappointing Lancashire Cup defeat at the hands of Uppermill entertain Barrow while Lancaster are at home to Fleetwood.
In Division Two defending champions Leyland hope to return to winning ways after losing at Morecambe when they play Darwen; while Carnforth hope to build on last week's shock one run win over leaders Netherfield when they travel to Carnforth.
Christian Davies, the Darwen bowler has set a new Club record for wickets taken in Division Two, surpassing the previous record of 378 held by David Bonner; a fine effort.
Chris Davies has set a new Darwen 2nd XI bowling record
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On Sunday Leyland travel to Atherton in the Lancashire Cup. Darwen play Lancashire League side Colne in their first round tie at Birch Hall on Thursday 19 May; the shortened 20-over game will have a 6pm start. St Annes are out of the competition, Blackpool have a first round bye and Barrow are already through to the next round.
Just six Northern League sides remain in the ECB National Club Championship with Blackpol, Carnforth, Chorley, Fleetwood, Netherfield and Leyland already knocked-out while Barrow did not enter.
In the second round of ties to be held on 22 May Morecambe play St Annes in Group 4 while Kendal entertain Darwen in Group 6. Preston are at home to Lytham and Lancaster travel to play Bolton League side Eagley.
On Sunday Cumberland are at home to Staffordshire in the MCCA Trophy held at Penrith CC (50 overs, 11am start).
Blackpool fast bowler Richard Gleeson is ruled out by injury and the County are also without Bradford League all-rounders Chris Thompson and James Smith.
Millom batsman Ryan Brown, formerly with Netherfield comes into the Cumberland side alongside Barrow's Liam Livingstone and Morecambe all rounder Chris Williams, the latter making his County debut. Williams has proved himself in Northern League cricket since stepping out of the Westmorland League at the end of the 2009 season.
Fixtures, Saturday 14th May 2011 (Round Six)
Furness Building Society Northern Premier Division (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls)
Division One (1pm start)
Carnforth v Chorley
Darwen v Leyland
Kendal v Preston
Lancaster v Fleetwood
Morecambe v Netherfield
St Annes v Barrow
Blackpool free date
Division Two (2nd XI, 1pm start)
Barrow v St Annes
Chorley v Carnforth
Fleetwood v Lancaster
Leyland v Darwen
Netherfield v Morecambe
Preston v Kendal
Blackpool free date
