Several TCL Premier League teams will be tussling for superiority in the ranks this weekend with the ladder looking tight for minor placing early on.
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Undefeated reigning champion Longford has a stronghold on top spot and will relish this weekend off while its fellow competitors go into battle.
Third-placed CRESSY will travel to University Oval to challenge last season’s preliminary finalists ACL (sixth), who are looking to stay in reach of a top-four finish.
“The next two weekends could shape our season in a lot of ways because we’ve four games within 10 days with a couple of T20s during the week,” ACL captain-coach John Kedey said.
“There have been a lot of things that have been in our control but we haven’t been able to complete both facets, bat and ball, in the same game.”
The Bluebacks have made a 2-4 start, while Cressy has registered four wins to date despite having what stand-in coach Sam Henley described as “an unsettled side”.
“We’ve been three or four Premier League players down in the past few weeks so it’s been a bit hard,” he said.
“The key for us is to get Kedey early because your are well on your way to beating ACL after that.
“Danny Bennett has been the pick up of the season with another 70 runs last week, he’s really kept us in most games.”
Sam Luttrell will return for the Bulldogs, while ACL bowling all-rounder Chathura Athukorala, of Sri Lanka, will make his debut.
HADSPEN faces a tough road-trip down the West Tamar Highway to face an in-form Beauty Point.
Both sides have made an indifferent start to the season with a 3-4 record and are placed fourth and fifth, respectively.
Chieftains skipper Liam Reynolds said his side was easily beaten by Longford but said it was capable of bouncing back.
Tamar Tigers coach Rob Crane is impressed with his side’s all-round game to date and said Joe Bodis and Stuart Prewer would play.
“It will be a tough ask this week because they’re due to hit their straps and will be one of the top sides later in the year,” Crane said.
“We’ve scored a few runs in the past few weeks and we’ve scored them quick too.”
In the final match on Saturday, last-placed DIGGERS host Legana at Hagley Oval.
Durhams coach Aaron Dusautoy said his side was pleased to get the four points against ACL last week and is hoping to consolidate second spot.
“Diggers are a dangerous side and can score quickly but we will look to win it with the ball again and work on our batting,” Dusautoy said.
“If we bat time, we know we can make a lot of runs.”