FIRST day winners Read and Whalley collide in a huge Ribblesdale League clash tomorrow – and an already keen derby is spiced up even more by the prospect of two Lancashire stars taking to the field for the showdown.
The game at Whalley’s Station Road is an early test for Richard Palmer’s men but they will be even more determined to shine as their local rivals will field Red Rose fast bowler Oliver Newby alongside their pro, Lancashire batsman Jordan Clark.
Clark impressed last weekend as he made a run-a-ball 76 in the win over Great Harwood and is already looking as though he could shine over the course of his first season in the league as he tries to establish himself at Old Trafford.
And the addition of Newby, who is from Read and played for the club prior to heading into the county game, is sure to add a little extra spice.
Another game with the expectation of fireworks comes at Chatburn Road as Clitheroe face Great Harwood.
New Clitheroe men Stuart Lemon and Tom Lord enjoyed perfect debuts in a thumping win at Salesbury as Lemon clattered a magnificent 123 and Lord hit a rapid 37.
Such explosive play would seem to give Paul Gaskell’s men an edge – but Harwood are buoyed by the appearance of pro Syed Shahabuddin.
Babar Naeem stands in for his old club Baxenden as they welcome Barnoldswick to Back Lane for another game that catches the eye and Cherry Tree play their second home match of the campaign and look for a second win.
Paul Turner carried his bat for 114 not out in the win over Earby and new pro Liam Jackson also impressed.
They will look to maintain their form when Jamie Kelly’s Edenfield roll into Preston New Road.
Settle is the destination for Oswaldtwistle, while Salesbury’s Sri Lankan pro Susantha Pradeep has yet to arrive. The Red Caps have borrowed East Lancs’ South African Ockert Erasmus for the game at Earby, with the Applegarth outfit strengthened by the return of Chris Walton.
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