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Vernon Road clash is top of table affair
Leaders St Annes lock horns with second-place Chorley tomorrow, and the runs could flow at Vernon Road in the Northern Premier League match of the day.
St Annes lead Chorley by six points, but the visitors hope to be back to a near- full-strength side, with Nigel Eastham, Ian Oakes, Billy Smith, the brother of Lancashire all-rounder Tom, and Rex Purnell all in the comeback frame.
St Annes have been strengthened by the return of Michael Baer from university commitments, and he made an immediate impact, taking six wickets against Darwen last weekend.
And Baer's bowling partnership with Sri Lankan pro Dinuka Hettiarachchi could hold the key to St Annes' title hopes while their opener Atiq Uz-Zaman tops the batting aggregates.
He fired 103 against Darwen last weekend, and has posted 516 runs at 64.50.
Preston, who are in the thick of the title hunt, host Darwen at West Cliff while Leyland, fresh from qualifying for the last 16 of the ECB National Knockout, are at Lune Road to play ancaster.
Darwen have had two points deducted for a slow over rate at St Annes last Saturday.
Morecambe face Blackpool at Woodhill Lane, while Barrow, who scored a splendid win against champs Netherfield last time out, head to Shap Road to play Kendal.
Carnforth are without their professional Gareth Pedder, who is getting married, for a visit to Fleetwood.
While Uz-Zaman is out in front, four other players have topped the 400 runs mark – Netherfield's Aussie pro Glen Batticciotto (439) and a trio of amateurs, St Annes' Stephen Twist (438), Netherfield's Craig Walmsley (420) and Carnforth's Ryan Nelson (411).
In the bowling stakes, Preston captain/professional Bilal Asad leads the way with 34 wickets, then Hettiarachchi (33).
Furness Building Society Northern League: Fleetwood v Carnforth, Kendal v Barrow, Lancaster v Leyland, Morecambe v Blackpool, Preston v Darwen, St Annes v Chorley. Netherfield: no game
Moore and Smalley Palace Shield Premier Division: Fylde v Thornton Cleveleys, Garstang v Penwortham, Longridge v Norcross, New Longton v Freckleton, Vernon Carus v Fulwood & Broughton, Whittingham & Goosnargh v Great Eccleston
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Weather for Preston
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
