Knights and Warriors clash in Regional Series M8 Derby

MATCH #2

Eastern Knights have named an unchanged twelve for this Sunday’s much anticipated Regional Series M8 derby match against the Western Warriors at Myreside, starting at 12.45. The Knights' head coach, Steve Knox, said: ”I am hopeful that we can build on our strong showing in last Sunday’s game against the Highlanders. We are expecting this game will be a tough challenge but one that we are relishing.”

The Western Warriors, mentored by former Scotland coach Tony Judd, play their first match of the new Regional Series, with West of Scotland seamer Ian Cran coming in for Rajeev Routray, who is now permanently attached to the Knights' squad. But most interest will focus on the first competitive appearance in Scotland of newcomer Neil Laidlaw.

Recommended by former Scotland Director of Cricket Jim Love, the York seamer has attended the last three indoor sessions with the Scotland squad in Edinburgh, and has impressed Head of Development Andy Tennant. "We've seen enough to know that we'd like to watch him in action in a high-level environment such as the Regional Series," said Tennant. "Then we can judge whether he has what it takes to play for Scotland."

The playing teams are as follows:

Eastern Knights: Gordon Drummond (captain, Carlton); Ross Lyons, Preston Mommsen, Fraser Watts (Carlton); Ollie Hairs, Neil McCallum, Simon Smith+ (Grange); Ewan Chalmers, Stuart Chalmers, Ryan Flannigan, Raj Routray (Watsonian); Sean Weeraratna (Heriot's).

Western Warriors: Qasim Sheikh (captain, Clydesdale); Douglas Lockhart+, Ian Young, Moneeb Iqbal, Ian Cran (West of Scotland); Omer Hussain, Majid Haq (Clydesdale); Richie Berrington, Kevin McLaren, Willie Rowan (Greenock); Neil Laidlaw (York); Andi McElnea (Ayr)

Note: the final match of the first (early season) part of the Regional Series is between the Western Warriors and Caledonian Highlanders at Titwood on Bank Holiday Monday, May 3, starting at 12 noon