Dukes NEPL preview

NEWCASTLE travel south to take on Stockton this morning in the Dukes NEPL, and the bad news for the Teessiders, who are bottom after losing their first two matches, is that their visitors will parade their new overseas player, West Indian Rondal Lake.

Lake, 20, who hails from Anguilla, is a top four batsman who bowls brisk medium pace and comes straight into a side which is further bolstered by the return of Guy Saxton and Alex Burrows.

The home team promote James Ward and Shiv Talsania, with Chris Parr unavailable.

Norton, sitting one place and one point above their Teesside neighbours, take an unchanged squad to Tynemouth, who have made an inconspicuous start.

The home team hand a first team debut to 19 year-old Jonathan Hymers and Matthew Brown returns.

Second-placed Blaydon will be tested when they meet Chester-le-Street as key players Gary Stewart and Mark Stoneman are missing, although Mark Drake is back and it is hoped South African Craig Knox will have arrived.

The Cestrians are unchanged.

And South North and Sunderland expect to name unchanged sides for their big meeting at Roseworth Terrace.

All three leading teams in the Wellstream NTSL have home fixtures today, and the top two name the same teams as last week.

Swalwell entertain Morpeth who have regular opening batsman Darren Leason returning, as Shotley Bridge take on a Lintz side missing Trevor Wilson who will be a married man next time he plays - David Nevins stands in.

Ashington lose opening batsman Neil Wood to injury, but in-form Ross Sample returns against Tynedale who will have Michael Parton and Craig Barber in the team.

Fourth-placed Annfield Plain hope that Indian Anoop Pai will debut at unchanged Sacriston following visa delays.

The backlog of visa problems is finally clearing with several new faces set to appear in the Warmseal Durham Senior League today.

South Hetton expect to see their new pro, Sri Lankan Harsha Vithana, in action at Boldon, as Marsden very much hope that South African Mpho Sekhoto will debut in their home match with Felling.

There is less certainty about the return this week of Hetton Lyons’ Surappulige Malinga for the home clash with table-toppers Eppleton, but Subhan Christudhas is back in the Durham City lineup for their match at Burnmoor.

In the Readers Durham County League there is a possibility that Evenwood’s Sri Lankan, Pramuka Sudesh Liyanage, will arrive in time for their game at Hylton, and there could also be another new face in their line-up.

Joint leaders Kimblesworth sit the programme out this week and watch whilst the only other two 100 per records are put on the line at Shildon where Crook are the visitors.

Balou Krishnan returns for the Railwaymen, but Phil Timmens faces a groin operation and will be missing.

John Sample is expected to make his debut for Easington in the 3D Durham Coast League, and he couldn’t have a tougher baptism at title favourites Castle Eden, although the home side will be without Dean Langridge.

Murton and Ryhope are keeping pace with Castle at the top.

The champions, playing at Peterlee, will have to do without the services of Ross Thubron and Phil Grimwood, whilst Ryhope show only one change for their game at Seaham Park, Ian White coming straight back in after his holidays.