GREENOCK face an important league match and a cup final this weekend.
On Saturday, Greenock are at home to second-placed Renfrew as the Western Premiership Two league programme moves into its final few weeks.
Then the local side travels to Larbert on Sunday for the Cricket Scotland Challenge Cup Final against Edinburgh.
For the Renfrew match Greenock are without a significant number of regular 1st XI players. Unavailable are both Aryan and Sam Sanghera plus Harry Briggs, Chirag Pandher, Shailesh Prabhu, Fahim Dinarkheil and Mu Ahmadzai.
Making a first appearance for the season will be former 1st XI captain Jonathan Hempsey who led the 1st XI team to the First Division Championship in 2016.
Among a number of 2nd XI players who are being elevated into the 1st XI is Kurakulasuriya Leema who top-scored with an innings of 69 against Bute County last weekend. Leema is also a slow left-arm bowler who will be called upon for a spell with the ball on Saturday.
Renfrew have completed nine league matches, winning eight. They possess a number of hard-hitting batters who Greenock will do well to contain.
The match is at noon. Greenock’s team will be : CJ Henry (Capt), PJ Bryceland, C Calder, JPC Hempsey, W Jenkins, K Leema, GJ McDougall, U Mansoor, SS Pandher, C Prabhu, H Safi. Scorer: B Roberts.
On Sunday, Greenock have a strong side available for the CS Challenge Cup final against Edinburgh CC at the neutral venue of Stenhousemuir CC, The Tryst.
Edinburgh CC is a relatively young club having only been established in 2000. Its 1st XI play in the East of Scotland Cricket Association (ESCA) Division One and is currently in second place having won nine of the 11 league matches completed.
The match starts at noon. The Greenock team will be: A Sanghera (Capt), Mu Ahmadzai, HR Briggs, C Calder, F Dinarkheil, CJ Henry, W Jenkins, GJ McDougall, CS Pandher, SS Pandher, SS Sanghera. 12th Man SS Prabhu. Scorer: B Roberts.
Greenock 2nd XI: The Glenpark XI, league leaders in the Western Championship Three, travel to Millburn Park in Alexandria to play Vale of Leven on Saturday.
The team shows a number of enforced changes because of players needed for the 1st XI on Saturday.
The match is at noon. The team will be: M Ahmad (Capt), Ma Ahmadzai, M Anwar, H Chetri, Z Dilsoz, Y Hayat, R Kumar, E Norris, P Robertson, R Safi, S Safi.
Greenock 3rd XI: On Tuesday evening at Glenpark, Greenock’s Hillend XI gained a comfortable win over Milngavie 3. Batting first, Hillend scored 112 for 9 and in reply Milngavie 3 were bowled out for 74.
The win hoisted the Hillend XI up to third spot in the Midweek League Division Three table having won four out of seven matches.
Greenock Cricket Club is sponsored by Cleaning Supplies 4U
