League and cup double header for rivals

Inverness rivals Highland and Northern Counties will face each other in a crucial north of Scotland league and cup double header this weekend.

Table-topping Highland are aiming to take a major stride towards the title by claiming a 10th successive league victory at Fraser Park tomorrow, where they host nearest challengers Counties.

The two sides will then meet on Sunday in a 30-over senior cup semi-final at Northern Meeting Park, in a bid to set up a final against either Huntly or Buckie.

Highland bowler Rob Nixon feels pressure is on Counties given the commanding league advantage his side have.

He said: “There is no pressure on us to win, we can go out and enjoy a bit of a free hit as there is a lot of pressure on them.

“They are a couple of matches behind us after they were beaten by Ross County and Huntly.

“We still have to play Northern Counties but, even if they beat us twice, it will still be hard for them to catch us.

“The cup is another chance of silverware. We got a bye from Nairn in the last round so we haven’t played a tie yet.”

Northern Counties vice-captain Will Ford said: “Highland are flying in the league. We got one over on them in the Twenty20 cup final, but a one-day encounter will be different.

“A win would show other teams they are beatable.”

Third-placed Nairn County will aim to take advantage of any slip-up by Counties by beating Buckie at the Links, while Ross County travel to Elgin.

Huntly host Forres St Lawrence on league business tomorrow, before taking on Buckie in their senior cup lastfour tie on Sunday. An improbable careerbest knock of 92 from nightwatchman Jack Leach underpinned England’s fightback against Ireland at Lord’s but the visitors remained in the hunt for one of Test cricket’s biggest upsets.

England ended day two of the inaugural Specsavers Test between the neighbouring nations on 303 for nine – a lead of 181 – after lightning and rain brought an early end to proceedings.

With the game so finely poised, all three results remained on the table but England may already have been staring down the barrel of an remarkable defeat had it not been for a steadfast knock from Leach, pictured above.

Leach said: “We have got to move on quickly, especially with the Ashes around the corner. A tough couple of days, but we have given ourselves a chance.

“We feel like we have a chance. We are going to have to bowl well second innings.”