Lisburn back in action

They will be hoping to get back to winning ways after their heavy defeat at Comber against North Down.

The early season away game at CIYMS started a series of close finishes; the match was lost by 1 wicket off the last ball when Lisburn were extremely well placed to take the points.

Since then tight finishes against Civil Service in the Challenge Cup and against Brigade and Donamana left Lisburn wondering if they could rectify the situation but two excellent performances in the Park against Ballymena and at Stormont against NICS, allayed their fears and the next two matches with CIYMS and Ballymena supplying the opposition, could see them take further strides up the league and to safety.

Once again, a lack of runs at North Down proved their downfall and if they are to win against CIYMS and Ballymena the early order batsmen must set the team up with a score which tests their opponents.

Craig Ervine has proved consistent in his run making but Lisburn will also be looking for big scores from James Magowan, Robert Rankin and Davey Simpson to supplement the classy Zimbabwean’s contributions.

The match on Saturday against CIYMS will only be Lisburn’s third home league match with their fourth against Ballymena a week later.

Lisburn Captain Davey Simpson says that whilst his side will be the ‘underdogs’ tomorrow, that is a tag they don’t mind.

The Lisburn Skipper says his men have ‘nothing to lose’ against the league leaders.

“We’re really looking forward to it, it’s the first time we’ve been back in the Park for a long time. We’ve only had two home fixtures in two and a half months of the season.

“CI are very very good. They have brought in a lot of players and have just announced they have signed another player. They are top of the league and are still bringing players in, but that gives us added incentive.

“We played them earlier in the season and probably should have won, apart from a superb innings from their player, so we have nothing to fear.

“We’ll go into the match as the underdogs, but we don’t mind that tag. We have nothing to fear and nothing to lose.”

Simpson says tomorrow will be the first time Lisburn will go into a match without any injuries, and despite his side having suffered their fair share of ‘bad luck’ throughout the season, he’s confident his side can earn a vital win.

“We haven’t had a massive rub of the green, but seven of the last remaining fixtures are at home.

“We are confident of beating anybody, especially in the Park.”