Darwen start Centenary season at Birch Hall
Lancaster pro Dwayne Hees is welcomed to the Club by Captain Michael Stevens
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Darwen make a belated start to the club's centenary season as they entertain Fleetwood at Birch Hall on Saturday in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Crickets Balls).
John Cordingley's side sat out the first round of fixtures and will be itching to get going on a momentous and important year for the club. Birch Hall looks a picture with the new artificial wicket looking superb and the square and outfield in great condition.
With a settled side from last year, bolstered by the return of Gareth Cordingley Darwen look well placed to challenge for honours. Their trio of exciting young players, batsman Alex Davies, bowler Yakub Bhamji and all-rounder Kamran Anwar will all be looking to maintain their progress and professional Mohammad Zaman Khan is a respected and experienced league professional who hit 1,600 runs in all competitions last year.
Darwen entertain Fleetwood who made a fine start to the season, defeating defending Champions Leyland by one wicket in a low-scoring match at Broadwater.
Preston's new pro Saeed Bariwala made a fine start taking five wickets to spearhead his side's exciting 16 runs win over Carnforth. New recruit Mohsin Modhi also looked an accomplished batsman on debut and with captain Lukman Vahaluwala in fine all-round form they will be looking forward to their trip to Netherfield.
Preston's new batsman Mohsin Modhi
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Rejuvenated Lancaster, with last season's leading amateur wicket-taker Ben Simm beginning the season with a five-for in the thrilling seven runs win over Blackpool, go to Lodge Quarry. Carnforth welcome back opening batsman Ryan Nelson and skipper Adam Hornby with professional Gareth Pedder beginning the season with a spell of seven for 32 and still finishing on the losing side. Matt Weller, who took three wickets on his Carnforth debut at Preston will be looking forward to facing his former club.
Carnforth's Matt Weller faces his former club Lancaster
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Elsewhere the Leyland-St Annes game brings back memories of last season's epic encounter at Fox Lane which St Annes eventually won by one wicket. Afterwards both skippers, David Makinson and Andy Kellett described the game as one of the best in which they had ever played. Sadly both have missed the start of the season due to back injuries. Leyland pro Brett Pelser will continue to captain the side in Makinson's absence while wicketkeeper Duncan Whalley takes charge of St Annes.
Morecambe's new professional Anwar Ali hit 60 on debut at Kendal and will be looking forward to his debut at Woodhill Lane. Barrow's South African pro Pieter Malan hit the season's first Division One century against Netherfield and followed that up with a leading role in his new club's LKO win over Elton on the Sunday.
Two clubs still awaiting the arrival of their professional meet at Stanley Park. Blackpool bowled and fielded superbly at Lune Road but went down to a narrow defeat to Lancaster after being bowled out for 80. Kendal's league legend Terry Hunte began the campaign with 91 before being run out in his side's high-scoring draw against Morecambe.
In Division Two defending champions Leyland, who began the season with a convincing win over Fleetwood are at St Annes. Preston captain Pip McDonald hit a magnificent 138 in his side's win at Carnforth and leads his side against Netherfield at West Cliff.
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Leyland pro Brett Pelser will again captain the team against St Annes
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Fixtures, Saturday 23rd April 2011 (Round Two)
Furness Building Society Northern Premier Division (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls)
Division One (1pm start)
Blackpool v Kendal
Carnforth v Lancaster
Darwen v Fleetwood
Leyland v St Annes
Morecambe v Barrow
Netherfield v Preston
Chorley free date
Division Two (2nd XI, 1pm start)
Barrow v Morecambe
Fleetwood v Darwen
Kendal v Blackpool
Lancaster v Carnforth
Preston v Netherfield
St Annes v Leyland
Chorley free date
