LEVI Wolfenden has set his sights on more 20/20 success, after admitting he has been encouraged by the start Church have made to their Lancashire League season.

The West Enders sit fourth in the table thanks to their four-wicket win over East Lancs on Saturday, including Kamran Basharat’s (5-40) first senior five-wicket haul.

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After losing batsmen Lloyd and Harvey Aspin, there were concerns about how the side would respond this season.

But Wolfenden feels they have made up for those departures with the ball, and believes that will be a useful weapon when the bid to defend their 20/20 crown, starting on Friday night in a re-match of last season’s final with Lowerhouse.

“That’s a really big game for us — it should draw a big crowd and it’s a good game to test ourselves after winning the competition last year,” he said.

“It should be a good start to the campaign. It’s a different format this year with two leagues of seven, with some new teams involved.

“In this format it’s down to an individual performance that can win you a game, whether it’s someone who takes three wickets or scores 40 runs at the end.

“There are three or four overs that can win you a game.”

But equally it was a fine solo effort from Basharat which helped Church get the better of East Lancs at the weekend.

“Kamran’s been unbelievable for us. He is a good lad, he enjoys his cricket and plays hard,” said Wolfenden. “We have bowled well together and been tight with him at one end and me at the other.

“We’ve lost two batters in Lloyd and Harvey, but we gained a bowler in Ali Sartaj, a left-arm spinner from Rishton. The pro (Usman Tariq) bowls spin too, so we’re not short in that department.

“Kamran is a different bowler to me — he attacks the stumps and the batters whereas I bore them and wear them down.

“I try to hold up one end and if that does the job for Kamran at the other end that’s fine because it’s a team game.”

And Wolfenden is pleased with the start they have made.

“We’ve had a good start to the season because you don’t expect to do as well after losing a couple of players,” he said.

“It’s not a surprise as such, but it’s good at this stage to have won more than we have lost.

“We started well last season but tailed off. For three or four years running we were in the top three or four so to finish fifth last year after being up there at the start was disappointing, especially considering we beat (champions) Lowerhouse twice in a month.

“We always try to finish higher than the year before.”

On Friday the target is to show they mean business in the 20/20, before Sunday’s visit of Rishton.