DOMESTIC CRICKET PREVIEWS
Dumfries, bidding to bounce back from their defeat to Drumpellier, entertain leaders Ferguslie who themselves must recover from their first loss of the season, having gone down to East Kilbride a week ago.
The Nunholm men have already claimed a couple of significant scalps on their home patch in Clydesdale and Kelburne and victory today would complete a significant hat trick of all three top teams in the league.
However, Ferguslie will refuse to panic after a defeat which owed most to the individual brilliance of Ross Lyons while some key decisions also went against the leaders. The Paisley side draft in John Allan for James Cook.
Clydesdale are poised menacingly in second but the Titwood side face a potentially tricky trip to face Prestwick who have shown they can compete with the best. The Ayrshiremen are in high spirits following last week’s win over Uddingston, a result which owed most to the batting exploits of Fazal Jawad who hit an astonishing 121no from only 79 deliveries.
Another big display against the champions would see the Western Warriors batsman advance his claims for a Scotland call-up. The aforementioned Lyons has stated his case for an international return impressively with a series of matchwinning shows for East Kilbride who will today attempt to cement a top four place with victory over Ayr.
Kelburne, for whom Ryan Morrow was in devastating form with the ball in last week’s win over Ayr, remain firmly in contention and they start favourites when Uddingston visit Whitehaugh. his talents because he used to play for him.
A decade on, the Lochlands brigade face the man in form – and the captain Marc Petrie says they will have to be alert to combat the threat of the former Kiwi Test player.
Petrie said: “He will have extra incentive to do something similar again this weekend because he used to be our pro. He was dangerous when he was in our team 10 years ago and he is clearly still pretty lethal.”
Petrie welcomes back the Burnett brothers and Elton Willemse. Craig Cameron and Jack Waller slip down to the second XI, while vice captain Ross McLean is attending a wedding. The 15-year-old Darryl Sinclair is retained after impressing on his debut.
Reflecting on his astonishing return of nine for nine, McKay said: “It was just one of those days when everything clicked and went my way. “I am enjoying life here – they are a great bunch and I have been enjoying helping out with coaching the young bowlers at the club.”
Pacesetters Forfarshire will be fancied to keep up their fine run at the expense of Heriot’s at Forthill. Shire will be boosted by the comeback of Matty Parker and Nic Green takes the place of Aman Bailwal.
Glenrothes will be craving revenge for their Scottish Cup thumping at the hands of champions Grange, who will be under pressure in the wake of their mauling by McKay.
Meanwhile, Falkland should be strong enough to ease their basement jitters by getting the upper hand against Stoneywood-Dyce, who are still looking for their first win.
Finally, Carlton ought to bounce back from defeat at Arbroath by beating Aberdeenshire in the capital.