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Domestic Preview – Week 11

Cricket Media preview week 11 in the Eastern and Western Premier divisions

Lizzie Sleet @CricketScotland
July 14, 2018 6 years
Domestic Preview – Week 11

Forfarshire skipper Umair Mohammed is hoping there are no aviation issues as he dashes back from Corfu for today’s crucial clash with Stew-Mel.

On the back of last week’s stunning triumph over pacesetters Grange, the Broughty Ferry brigade are aiming to dodge any banana skins thrown down by the struggling Edinburgh outfit at Forthill.

Mohammed said: “We aim to keep up the momentum. It was a brilliant win last weekend and we must continue to aim high

“No opponents can be taken lightly, including sides like Stew-Mel at the lower end of the table.

“It should be a great surface, so the better team on the day will come out with the result they want.”

Only hapless Glenrothes are between Stew-Mel and the basement – but spokesman Kenny Crichton insisted a single win can turn round their season, even at this advanced stage.

This afternoon, Arbroath are visitors to Gilvenbank – and Crichton stated: “Obviously our task to stay in this league is becoming tougher, especially with inconsistent player availability.

“Skipper Safyaan Sharif is back and we really believe that one victory could make all the difference to our fortunes.”

Arbroath have also had selection headaches and they are minus captain Marc Petrie, Fraser Burnett and overseas amateur Hayden Laing.

Petrie said: “Glenrothes are a much better team than their position suggests and the boys will be wary of the threat they pose.”

Elsewhere, Grange will bid to get back on the winning trail by accounting for Watsoians at Myreside.

Second-placed Heriot’s are also on capital derby duty at Carlton, while RHC Lions welcome Aberdeenshire.

Gregg Watson is confident West of Scotland can put recent disappointments behind them and rekindle their Western Premier campaign with victory at Greenock.

After an encouraging start, the Partick club have lost their way, losing their last two completed matches while last week’s clash with Dumfries was abandoned after a few overs when the umpires deemed their Hamilton Crescent pitch unfit.

League chiefs have yet to announce any sanctions with a replay or a points penalty among the options available.

The latter would thrust West into a potential relegation battle but skipper Watson will focus only on today’s action.

He said: “Last week was disappointing but the umpires made the correct decision in the circumstances. There’s no further comment to make on that at the moment.”

However, Watson added: “Saturday’s game is really important for us as we’re looking to get back on track after a couple of losses.

“Greenock is one of my favourite places to play so it will be great to get out there again and hopefully get back on the winning trail.”

Meanwhile Greenock, having moved off the bottom of the table with victory over Ayr last week, could leapfrog West with a big win and a club spokesman said: “There is little to separate the teams at the foot of the table.

“Our team spirit was evident last week and we need to show that again when we face West.”
Greenock bring in Tom Forrest and Sehmat Pandher for Sean Fischer-Keogh and Sam Sanghera while West are at full strength.

Last week’s defeat saw Ayr slip into the relegation places and they face a daunting task to hoist themselves back up the table when runaway leaders Ferguslie visit Cambusdoon.

Andi McElnea’s side have managed just two wins all season, going down heavily in the corresponding fixture at Meikleriggs and it is unlikely that the Paisley side will be distracted by tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated Scottish Cup semi-final at Grange.

Elsewhere Poloc, having slipped from third to sixth following last week’s defeat at Prestwick, will head back in the right direction if they can fashion a rare southside derby win over second top Clydesdale at Shawholm.

However, they face a Dale side looking to bounce back from last week’s home reverse to Stirling.

Stirling go into their home fixture against Uddingston in high spirits after winning the Rowan Cup in midweek to reach Murgitroyd T20 finals day for the first time while Dumfries will look to climb off bottom spot with a home win against outgoing champions Prestwick.

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