Lisburn Cricket Club face a difficult start

Both games require Lisburn to be at full strength but unfortunately they are without their captain Greg Thompson who has opted to fulfil his commitment with Lisnagarvey as they try to qualify for a place in Europe through the Irish Hockey League tournament at Comber Road also on Saturday.

With Bruce Topping also out of the running as he has returned to Donacloney, Lisburn travel to Comber with a team which includes new member Robert Rankin from the North West Club Bready. He is the brother of Boyd Rankin who opens the bowling for Ireland and shows great potential with the bat.

Yasas Tillitaratne also returns as the Lisburn professional and is supported by Ryan Ervine, Adam Berry, Glen Halliday and acting skipper Davey Simpson at the top of the batting order.

The bowling is still strong with Simpson and Ervine opening with the ball and they are well backed up by Henie van de Merwe, Yasas Tillikaratne, Richard McConkey and an available Ian Whitten, fresh from his Ulster rugby involvement.

The trip to Comber is always a difficult one but the acting captain is more than keen to start the season with a win and only the best will do at The Green.

On Monday, skipper Greg Thompson returns to lead the team in the Park against Instonians and this will be another hard afternoon but home advantage should give Lisburn the edge

Two matches against Bready last weekend were well worthwhile even if both games were lost. On Saturday Lisburn managed 170 but the home side knocked off the runs for the loss of six wickets. On Sunday, rain limited the match to a 20 over affair and again Bready chased the Lisburn score of 120 and won by 3 wickets but it is now down to the ‘real thing’ and Lisburn will be looking for a confident start in this very special season.