CRICKET — Inverclyde Starting League SeasonINVERCLYDE Cricket Club’s league campaign starts on Saturday when they travel to play Clydesdale 3rd XI Bees at Auldhouse Park, Glasgow , starting at 1pm.
With another league restructuring taking place this year, Inverclyde will play in the Western District Cricket Union Division Four, with keen competition expected from relegated Vale Of Leven, and from Bute, Kirkstyle, Gatehouse, East Renfrewshire, and Glasgow sides Hughenden, Bees and Alps.
Dave Cooke (pictured) returns for a fifth season as captain. The squad is improved with Ross Blair returning from a spell with Gatehouse, Chris Dick remaining on the books for a full season and new recruit David Muncie moving from Renfrew.
League top bowler in the past two seasons Gareth James moves up to the vice-captain role and will be an important player with bat and ball for the season.
The team, to meet at Battery Park at 11.45am, is made up of Dave Cooke, Gareth James, Mark Blair, Ross Blair, Chris Dick, Cammy Gunn, Billy Hair, Douglas Pilkington, Paul Singh, David Thomson, Tom Watson
Inverclyde played against Bute last Sunday in a pre-season friendly game in Dunoon and, although losing out by seven wickets, gained valuable match practice before the start of the league, with Cooke (36) and Thomson (21) sharing a 52-run opening partnership.
Scores — Inverclyde 108 all out; Bute 110 for 3
Indoor practices continue for juniors on Saturdays and for seniors this Sunday and next Wednesday. Then senior practices move outdoors on Thursday evenings at Gourock Park starting on 10 May, where new players of all abilities will be made welcome.
