Prestwick look to gain early-season momentum
Prestwick captain Fraser Macdonald is relishing today’s visit of champions Uddingston to the Henry Thow Oval after last week’s winning Western Premier start at Stirling.
A fine all-round display from marquee signing Majid Haq underpinned a 23-run victory at New Williamfield but Macdonald knows the Ayrshire side are much more than a one-man band.
He said: “I feel we’re pretty strong in most departments and the fact that we have four Scotland U19 players in our second team underlines that.
“Today’s game will probably give both teams an idea of where they stand. A win would be great and give us a bit of momentum but you’re not doomed if you lose. Uddingston are always well organised so we’ll have to work for any reward.”
Macdonald, a survivor of Prestwick’s 2017 title-winning team, added: “Our seam bowling department was better four years ago but we’ve definitely got a stronger batting line-up now, and Maj is already proving to be a fantastic signing.”
For the second week running champions Uddingston find themselves in the day’s top match and skipper Bryan Clarke has called for a muchimproved performance from the one which saw them fall at the first hurdle of their title defence.
A four-wicket loss to Clydesdale means the Bothwell side are already playing catch-up on two of their major rivals and Clarke said: “It’s going to be another tough game – they all are, and this league will be very difficult to call.
“We really let ourselves down last week with the exception of Fergus (Clarke) so the challenge is to bounce back.
“We can be pretty sure Prestwick will be able to call on 20 overs of quality spin but we have similar qualities in that department so I think it will be about who copes best with the bat and how our seam bowlers adapt to a different type of surface.”
Prestwick are at full strength while Nick Martin and Craig Smith come into the Uddingston side in place of Gavin Bradley and Harry Singh.
Elsewhere, Ferguslie, impressive opening day winners over West of Scotland, welcome back former Scotland batsman Omer Hussain for their Renfrewshire derby against Greenock at Meikleriggs.
The visitors have Harry Briggs, Cameron Calder, Jamie Nowell and Sam Sanghera unavailable from the side which went down to Langside.
Clydesdale and Dumfries both made winning starts so the victors in their encounter at Titwood will claim early momentum while newcomers Langside are also aiming for a second win when they welcome Stirling to Albert Park.
In contrast Poloc and West of Scotland are bidding to break their duck in their clash at Shawholm, though both are buoyed by impressive Rowan Cup wins in midweek.