Hussain turns back clock to lead title bid by Ferguslie

Leaders Ferguslie want to savour the joy of six when they travel to face Dumfries this afternoon.

The Paisley side, with five straight wins, start strong favourites against their joint-bottom hosts who have yet to break their duck.

Last Saturday, Ferguslie recovered from a disastrous start against Poloc when their top order failed to fire, but that merely allowed others to demonstrate the side’s strength in depth as a superb century stand between cousins Omer Hussain and Taimoor Ahmad led the fightback.

Having returned from neighbours Kelburne during the close-season, Hussain is beginning to rediscover the form that earned 25 caps a decade ago and skipperjameycarrurthers clearly feels the left-hander could be a key figure in his team’s title bid.

Carruthers said: “Omer has looked better and better every week and last Saturday’s knock was a quality innings. His partnership with Taimoor was one of the best I have seen at Ferguslie. Taimoor, too, is beginning to show what a top quality cricketer he can be.”

Elsewhere a couple of intriguing derbies stand out with West of Scotland welcoming back James Fennah for the visit of inform Clydesdale.

West lost to Prestwick last week but victory today would lift them above Dale who held off the challenge of Greenock to secure a third consecutive win.

Ayr will bid to repeat their midweek Mcculloch Cup win over Prestwick at Cambusdoon.

Poloc draft in 17-year-old Ahmed-raza Hanif as they bid to end a three-game losing streak when they entertain Stirling at Shawholm. A Poloc spokesman said: “Last week’s defeat at Ferguslie summed up our early-season form when we threw away promising positions in both innings.”

Greenock, for whom Neil Flack’s brilliant century was in vain at Clydesdale a week ago, entertain Uddingston, who have their tails up after three consecutive wins.