Top two clash at Fox Lane
St Annes pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi is in top form for the reigning champions |
There is no doubt at all about the Match of the Day in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) this coming Saturday when all roads lead to Fox Lane for the clash of unbeaten leaders Leyland against unbeaten reigning champions St Annes, 18 points adrift in second place.
Leyland have won eight of their nine games so far, the other being washed out with three wins batting first and five batting second. St Annes, meanwhile have recorded five of their six wins batting second.
Opening batsman Chris Parkinson, pro Brett Pelser and all-rounder Luis Reece are Leyland's form players with Atiq Uz-Zaman and pro Dinuk Hettiarachchi both in top form for St Annes.
Atiq Uz-Zaman is St Annes' top batsman |
Parkinson has reeled off three match-winning half-centuries in his last four innings, Pelser averages over 100 and Reece has taken 22 wickets at 9.36 including a six wicket haul at Barrow last Monday. Atiq has scored 478 runs at 119.50 and Hettiarachchi has taken 24 wickets already including a five wicket haul in last Monday's emphatic win at Preston.
Luis Reece took six wickets for Leyland last Monday |
Third-placed Blackpool are also in fine form, revealing the strength of the batting depth to record a tense two wicket win at Fleetwood last Monday when bowlers Andy Hogarth and Richard Gleeson made valuable contributions with the bat. Wicketkeeper Rob Sissons, a former pro footballer once on Bolton Wanderers' books has also earned rave reviews. Former Second XI captain Steven Mercer has shone with the ball and taken 20 wickets at 11.25 so far. Blackpool entertain Preston at Stanley Park with the visitors without key men Lukman Vahaluwala and Sajid Patel.
Fourth-placed Morecambe travel to Windsor Park to face a Chorley side that is in a slump of form at the moment, despite some outstanding performances from their highly-rated opening bowler Kieran McCullagh. Chris Williams has adapted quickly since joining Morecambe from Westmorland team Silverdale and Tommy Clough's side have good batting depth, a fine 'keeper in Lewis Edge and a top pro in Mandla Mashimbyi. Ryan Smith and Reg Cupit have also become key first-team players while opener Mark Woodhead remains as consistent as ever.
Barrow hope to recover from their disappointment at losing to Leyland last Monday when they host Kendal at Ernest Pass. The visitors will be without professional and captain Ross McMillan who has returned home to South Africa to sort out the paperwork to extend his stay at Shap Road. On Thursday Kendal have engaged former Netherfield opening bowler Scott Clement, now the pro at Appleby Eden against his old club in the Twenty20 but will be seeking another deputy on Saturday.
Fleetwood captain and professional Matt Frith and opening bowler Ryan Smith have proved key performers for Fleetwood who face Lancaster at Lune Road. Netherfield are at home to Carnforth at Parkside Road. Darwen must kick their heels after their resounding win at Chorley when professional Mohammed Zaman Khan became the first batsman to pass through the 500-runs mark this season.
With Second Division leaders Darwen inactive second placed Leyland have a chance to close the 12-point gap at the top when they travel to St Annes, whose star batsman Russ Bradley has hit 336 runs at an average of 168. Leyland's key bowler Stephen 'The Cat' Cartwright is sidelined with injury but all rounder Nathan McDonnell has stepped up to the plate with bat and ball lately. Third-placed Chorley play Morecambe while fourth-placed Preston entertain fifth-placed Blackpool.
Nathan McDonnell is a key all rounder for Leyland Seconds |
Fixtures Saturday
Round 10
Division One (1pm start)
Barrow v Kendal
Blackpool v Preston
Chorley v Morecambe
Lancaster v Fleetwood
Leyland v St Annes
Netherfield v Carnforth
Darwen no game
Division Two (2nd XI, 1pm start)
Carnforth v Netherfield
Fleetwood v Lancaster
Kendal v Barrow
Morecambe v Chorley
Preston v Blackpool
St Annes v Leyland
Darwen no game
Sunday cup action for several teams
ECB NATIONAL CLUB COMPETITION UPDATE
Twelve Northern League clubs entered the competition, Barrow deciding not to enter. Six have been knocked-out in round one: Carnforth, Chorley, Fleetwood, Kendal, Netherfield and Preston.
There are two all Northern League ties in the second round stage which must be completed by this Sunday 13 June.
On Sunday in Group 4 St Annes entertain Lancaster while in Group 5 Leyland host Morecambe on Sunday 13 June.
In Group 4 Blackpool travel to play Fulwood & Broughton while in Group 6 Darwen visit Prestwich.
Group 4
Round 2
St Annes v Lancaster (Sunday 6 June, 1pm)
Fulwood & Broughton v Blackpool (Sunday 6 June, 1pm)
Group 5
Round 2
Leyland v Morecambe (Sunday 13 June, 1pm)
Group 6
Round 2
Prestwich v Darwen (Sunday 6 June, 1pm)
Full details of the competition can be found here:
https://static.ecb.co.uk/files/national-club-championship-draw-10848.doc
LANCASHIRE LCB KNOCKOUT CUP COMPETITION UPDATE
Of the five Northern League clubs to enter the competition only Chorley have been knocked-out. In the second round Preston visit Woodhouses, St Annes are at Read, Netherfield host Denton St Lawrence and Morecambe are at home to Winton. Again ties have to be played by 13 June. Holders Bootle were knocked-out by Palace Shield side Vernon Carus last Sunday.
Round Two
Morecambe v Winton (Sunday 6 June, 2pm)
Woodhouses v Preston (Sunday 6 June, 2pm)
Read v St Annes (Sunday 13 June, 2pm)
Netherfield v Denton St Lawrence (Sunday 6 June, 2pm)
Full details of the full draw can be found here:
http://www.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/LCBCupDraw2010.pdf
MINOR COUNTIES
Cumberland begin their Minor Counties Championship campaign with a three day game against Staffordshire at Knypersley beginning this Sunday. The Cumberland side is expected to include several Northern League cricketers.
Full details on the county web site:
http://www.cumberlandccc.co.uk/cumberland_county_cricket_club_fixtures.htm
