CHERRY Tree skipper David Hayes wants professional Naeem Ashraf to lead from the front as the Preston Old Road club begin a season of 'transition'.

The 1997 champions may have started the new campaign with a bang thanks to Ashraf's heroics with the bat in Saturday's rain-affected clash with Settle.

But Hayes believes the Pakistani paid-man will have to carry his side's bowling attack almost single-handedly this summer if they are to improve on last season's third place.

Opening bowler John Hughes has quit the Ribblesdale League club to link up with Didsbury, who are based nearer his Manchester home.

And back-up seamer Roger Davies has also indicated he is also unlikely to feature much, if at all, this summer.

That has left Hayes with a major headache in the bowling department and he admits he will turn to Ashraf to shoulder the burden.

"It's a big loss to lose John because we haven't been able to replace him with anyone," said Hayes.

"And it does not look like Roger will be able to play much either.

"So we are looking a bit weak in the bowling department. "Apart from the pro, we've only really got Gary Bolton so it looks as though we are going to have to ask Naeem to bowl right through in most of the games.

"It could be a bit of a transitional period for the club as we look to bring some of the younger lads through."

The Bolton-Ashraf combination did the damage against Settle on Saturday in a game dramatically affected by the weather.

Settle were 24-2 off 16 overs when the rain came down.

But after a two hour delay, the sides then went back on and Ashraf (3-19) and Bolton (4-31) combined to restrict the visitors to 56-8 from 45 overs.

That left Cherry Tree with just six overs to get their target but a brilliant cameo innings from Ashraf -- who smashed an unbeaten 43 off just 17 deliveries -- saw them do it with an over to spare!

"It was a brilliant knock and, hopefully, he can bat like he did on Saturday for the rest of the season," added Hayes.

Meanwhile, Settle skipper Mark Verden had few complaints about the fact the game was completed, despite the conditions. And he admitted Ashraf was simply awesome on the day.

"Ashraf was in that kind of mood and he's very dangerous when he is like that," said Verden, who has revealed he is currently trying to tempt all-rounder Dave Morrell back to the club.

"If we had got him out fairly quickly then there's no way they would have got the runs.

"At one point, for instance, Dave Jolleys was on a hat-trick but he ended up going for 32 off his three overs.

"But the way the rules are at the minute, the side batting second are always going to be in the driving seat, no matter what the circumstances.

"You are on a hiding to nothing batting first.

"But it was playable.

"They did a lot of mopping up, even though we had no particular inclination to go back out."

This weekend, Settle entertain Barnoldswick and Verden is hoping his side can get their season off the ground.

"We've got to start from scratch again.

"But having Dave Jolleys back should help us because we were going for 200 on too many occasions last year."

Cherry Tree, meanwhile, travel to Clitheroe and Hayes is anticipating a tough contest.

"It's not one of our happier hunting grounds so we will be praying for more rain," joked the skipper.