Philadelphia hope to run up bigger score with bat
In Dukes ECB North East Division One, Boldon take on Philadelphia at Sunderland Road and the visitors are unchanged for their earlyseason bottom-of-the-table clash.
Philadelphia will be aiming to improve on last week's batting performance first and foremost as they were bowled out for just 52.
Their chairman, Malcolm Pratt, said: “A boost for us is the inclusion of Indian professional Mayank Mishra, who despite only having arrived at Bunker Hill 36 hours earlier, impressed with his left-arm spinners.”
Sunderland, in fourth place, take on Shotley Bridge at Ashbrooke and skipper Greg Applegarth said: “Missing this week are Safyaan Sharif and Hamza Tahir through international commitments to Scotland, which means there is a chance for two others to step up and make an impression.
“We are expecting a tough game.”
League leaders Willington play Gateshead Fell at Eastwood Gardens and visiting manager Karl Brown said: “After a hard-fought win against Lanchester last week, the first team go into the last orange ball fixture of this season’s win/lose early phase.”
Brown added: “We have no change to last weekend’s side, with the players showing a great deal of confidence going into another testing game.
“They will not take the Fell lightly and will be well prepared for the challenge.”
Crook welcome thirdplaced Castle Eden to Dawson Street and visiting skipper Jonathan Malkin said: “We have one change to our team this week. Ryan Ball is replaced by Isaac Unsworth.
“It was a great win last week and we are looking to continue our good form.”
Bottom club Lanchester play Blaydon at Denefield and visiting skipper Greg Patterson said: “New signing young Jak Forster comes straight into the team from Leadgate and he is a promising young county keeper. It’s a big game against two evenly matched sides.”
Newcastle welcome Ashington to their Osborne Avenue ground in Jesmond and director of cricket Phil Hudson said: “We hope Chris McBride will recover from an ankle problem in order to replace Liam Trevaskis, who is away with Durham. George Darwood is on standby if he does not make it.”
Hudson added: “Following last week’s first defeat of the season at Castle Eden, the team are keen to return to winning ways in what will be a hard game.”
Visiting skipper Sean McCafferty said: “We have an unchanged team this week.
“We are confident going into the game against a side who has started well. Hoping for a win to keep our momentum going.”
In Dukes ECB North East Premier League, Burnmoor entertain Whitburn at the Village Ground and skipper Alec Linsley said: “There is just one change for us this week as Chaminda Bandara, our overseas professional, comes in for Darren Hickey.
“Chaminda has represented Sri Lanka in one-day international cricket, so he will add a much-needed boost to our bowling attack and give everyone a lift after a poor start to the season.”
Linsley added: “Whitburn are no pushovers and we have played them many times from the DSCL days, so we are looking forward to catching up with old friends, and hopefully we will have enough to get a win and kick-start our season.”
Visiting skipper Paul Shields said: “We have one change for our trip to Burnmoor.
“Unfortunately Matthew Muchall is unavailable, but he is replaced by the returning Luke Smith.
“It will be a tough game against Burnmoor especially at their ground.”
Shields added: “They won the league a couple of years ago and still continue to add to their squad, which is quite an achievement.
“However, we go into game looking for a positive performance and a win.”
Chester-le-Street host Washington at Ropery Lane and visiting skipper Joe Thompson said: “We will hopefully be unchanged from last week.
“Last week was another example of where we have played some good cricket for a large percentage of the game but did not do it for long enough.
“We stick together and hopefully this is the week we will put in a consistent performance.”
Eppleton welcome Benwell Hill to Church Road and visiting skipper Peter Halliday said: “We were delighted with the victory against a strong Hetton Lyons side last Saturday, and we are hoping to secure a spot in the top four to qualify for the Banks Salver, a competition we value greatly.”
Halliday added ”We are missing Kyle Coetzer this weekend, who is away on international duty. Any team in the league would miss a player of Kyle’s quality, but we are confident in the depth of our squad and take comfort from individual contributions so far this season.”
In the other games scheduled to take place this weekend, Sacriston travel up from County Durham to Roseworth Terrace in Gosforth in Newcastle to take on the reigning champions and joint league leaders South Northumberland.
Hetton Lyons also have a tough trip, as they play third-placed Felling at High Heworth Lane, while Burnopfield entertain Tynemouth.