Western Premier Cricket: Dumfries focused on crucial three weeks

By SANDY STRANG
Published on 18/08/2012 03:42

Dumfries, unchanged and reinstalled as leaders after last week’s Chris Bellwood-inspired defeat of Ayr, take a 7.5% lead into the last three weeks with every intent to maintain it.

Uddingston, their opponents today, and last week’s conquerors of previous leaders Clydesdale, should provide a stiff test of the Nunholm resolve.

All-rounder Niall Macleod returns for Uddingston, who will look for inspiration from Ras Priyardashana, the league’s leading run-scorer, and Saltire Calum Macleod.

Clydesdale also face a tricky way trip to Lanarkshire to meet a Drumpellier side still smarting from last week’s eclipse to lowly Greenock, who will be very much up for today’s visit of second-placed West of Scotland as they bid to beat the trop. However, successive victories over Uddingston and Stirling have reignited the title aspirations of the Hamilton Crescent side, who will again look to their proven seam attack led by ex-Saltire John Blain to make early inroads into Greenock’s batting.

Ayr skipper Mark Renny is rightly wary of today’s visit by Stirling County.

“We’re looking forward to Sunday’s West League Cup Final, but Saturday is far more important, as defeat could see us slipping into relegation territory,” he said.

Ross Mitchell returns for Ayr, while bottom side County bring in batsman James Miller for Toby Culham.