PRIDE may be the main incentive for Caley Highlanders and Western Warriors as they bring down the curtain on this season’s Tilney Pro50 Cup at Forthill tomorrow (Sun).
Neither side can claim the title after Eastern Knights moved into an unassailable position following their victory over the Highlanders last weekend.
However, both sides are keen to finish their campaigns on a winning note to clinch second place and avoid the wooden spoon.
Caley coach Ryan Watson said: “The title might have been won but we want to go out on a high with a win against the Warriors.”
Consistency of selection has been a regular challenge for Watson this season and it is again an issue for the home side who are without Kyle Coetzer.
The absence of Coetzer is a major blow – not just for the Scotland skipper’s runs (he top-scored with 80 last week) – but also for his inspirational qualities.
On the plus side Watson has been able to call-up Falkland’s Sri Lankan professional Harsha Cooray who will offer options with both bat and ball.
Wallace will captain the team in Coetzer’s absence and the Forfarshire and Scotland batsman may have eyes on a personal milestone since a score of 74+ would see him overhaul the joint leading scorers in this season’s tournament – Knights duo Mike Carson and Dylan Budge boasting 225 runs.
That landmark could also be a target for Warriors batsman Richie Berrington who would require a score of at least 94 to become the tournament’s top scorer.
Bowlers on both sides also have personal targets with Caley’s Scott Cameron along with Warriors spinners Hamza Tahir and Ross Lyons all needing four wickets to surpass Mark Watt’s tally of nine.
Tomorrow’s winners will take momentum into the final round of Tilney T20 Blitz matches on September 2 when both will need to beat the Knights for Warriors to take the title and deny Knights the double.
The fixture will be streamed live from Forthill
