Greg is hoping fine margins work in Sunderland’s favour
Sunderland host Eppleton at Ashbrooke this weekend in the Dukes ECB North East Premier League and will be looking to put last week’s disappointment behind them.
Sunderland skipper Greg Applegarth said: “We were disappointed with last week’s result, but there are certainly things to build upon and the small margins matter more at this level.
"We welcome both Hamza Tahir and Safyaan Sharif from Scotland duty, as well as Joe Stuart, who will come back in to the side and we are hoping to make progress with an overseas player for next week’s game.”
Whit burn host Burn mo or and skipper Paul Shields said: “We go into our second game at home with an unchanged side.
"We are looking to build on a solid opening day win against Eppleton, verses a very strong Burnmoor side.”
Burnmoor Alec Linsley said. “Just the one change this week as Paul Craig returns for Darren Hickey.
"We will be looking to bounce back following the defeat to Felling last Saturday, in what was a low scoring thriller!
"Whitburn have strengthened during the winter and have some match winners in their ranks!
"It should be another great game and we will do what we can to get the win and our season under way!!”
Hetton Lyons entertain Chester-le-Street and skipper Stuart Walker said: “Liam Dixon comes in from being abroad last week. It should be a well fought game.”
Cestrians skipper John Coxon said: “We got exactly what we deserved last week - the batting in general was poor and miles away from what we can do.
"We bowled pretty well but credit to Newcastle who dug in and got over the line - something we couldn’t do on the day.
"We will be unchanged this week and looking to put things right away at Hetton Lyons.
"We’ve had some good
games against them recently so we know it will be difficult, but it’s a must win.”
Newcastle welcome champions South North and director of cricket Phil Hudson said: “We are unchanged on the back of last week’s win and hope to continue the momentum against our local rivals.
"With South North losing last week we’re expecting an extremely tough game.”
Tynemouth entertain Benwell Hill and visiting skipper Peter Halliday said: “Kyle Coetzer and Fin McCreath are back available this week and we are hopeful Callum Harding will return after injury.
"It was a disappointing defeat last week, but our focus shifts quickly onto another tough test.
"Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes and produce the form we showed for large periods of last season.”
In the other game, Felling host Burnopfield at High Heworth Lane with both teams having impressive opening
day wins against Burnmoor and South North respectively.
Meanwhile in Division One, Washington travel to Gateshead Fell.
Skipper Joe Thompson said: “We are waiting on a couple of injuries before naming our team.
"We hope to build on last week’s victory, we won the game but have a lot to improve on.
"We know Gateshead will be a difficult game and they have some good players in their team, so we will need to play well to come away with the points.”
Sacriston travel to Willington and fixture secretary Iain Bestford said: “Durham University students Michael Booth and Pranav Khera are available and come in to replace Jack Adams and Ant Quinn our overseas player, who has had to return home with a serious knee injury.
"Craig Robertson is also available having returned from holiday, and he makes up a 12-man squad, as we
await an update on Jack Keall'’s fitness having suffered a side-strain in week one.”
Lanchester entertain Philadelphia and skipper Greg Patterson said: “Kieron Taylor is in for Josh Renton and Jak Forster in for Daniel Storey who’s injured.
"We look forward to welcoming Phili after a good opening win.”
Castle Eden are at Seaham Park and skipper Jonathan Malkin said: “We are unchanged this week and it was a good start to the season with a win last Saturday, and hope to continue that this week with a good performance.”
Ashington travel to Blaydon and skipper Sean McCafferty said: “We have Callum Storey available to the squad this coming week and are looking to bounce back after a poor batting display in the last game.”
In the other game, Shotley Bridge entertain Crook at the Spa Grounds, with the home side gaining a nine wicket win on the opening day, while the visitors were beaten at Lanchester.
*Yorkshire have announced the signing of Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne.
The 33-year-old batter, who has scored 5,620 runs in 76 Tests for his country, will play three LV= Insurance County Championship matches for the White Rose, starting with this week’s trip to Northamptonshire.
Yorkshire interim managing director of cricket Darren Gough told the club’s official website: “We are delighted that Dimuth will be joining us for the next three Championship games.
“He has proven himself to be an exceptional leader for Sri Lanka and is a tremendous Test match batter.
“It can only benefit the lads in our changing rooms to have a player of his quality and I’m sure they will all get a lot from it.
"I’m confident he will contribute runs and enjoy his time at Yorkshire.”