NW CRICKET FINAL: Meet the men from Coleraine Cricket Club

Because of this the Bannsiders will be relishing the whole experience.

Scott Campbell (Captain): Left hand opening batsman, left arm orthodox spin bowler. This is Campbell’s second year as Coleraine skipper and the 22-year-olds first ever Senior Cup final having been beaten in the last five years in the semi finals. The all rounder will have a key role to play with both bat and ball.

Gordon Cooke (Vice captain): Right Hand bat, right arm medium bowler. The very experienced Gordon Cooke has done a superb job with the ball since arriving at Coleraine four years ago. Age may not have been on his side but experience counts for a lot in big cup finals like this one. Cooke can be a fiery customer on his day and will let the opposition know it.

David Cooke: Right Hand batsman. Like his brother the former Coleraine captain has played in many cup finals and will have plenty of advice for skipper Campbell. With Matthew Douglas back in the team David can fully concentrate on his batting which can only be a positive for himself as the two day final can be physically demanding. A key player if Coleraine are going to stop the Donemana cup run.

Niall McDonnell: Opening batsman. Coming out of retirement in the winter, Niall is playing his fourth year at Coleraine. An aggressive batsman who can tear apart any bowling attack on his day. Niall without doubt strengthens Coleraine’s batting lineup and will again have a key role to play come Friday.

Tim Chopra: Left Hander Tim has had a great first half of the season scoring consistently and looks back to the player he once was before his unfortunate injuries. Tim no longer bowls now so fully concentrates on his batting at the top of the order. A patient batsman who on his day looks one of the most elegant in the North West.

Rishi Chopra: All Rounder Rishi has had more success with the bat in recent times which adds a great balance to the batting lineup for the Bannsiders. Rishi has a full array of shots and is probably the best player of spin in the team which could be key as Donemana have a strong spin bowling battery. Rishi could be used as an option with the ball as well and this could be the big stage he will relish.

Varun Chopra: Lower order bat, right arm leg spin bowler. The youngest player in the Coleraine cup final team and some may say Coleraine’s best bowler in the last two years. The 16-year-old already has a mature head on his shoulders and will be an important aspect of Campbell’s armoury. His variation could bamboozle any batsman and his control is a trait to admire.

Matthew Douglas: Middle order batsmen, wicketkeeper. The youngest of the three Douglas brother has been missing for the first half of the season due to university commitments but has now slotted back nicely in to the team to relieve David Cooke of his duties. The keeper is very sharp behind the sticks and can stand up to most quick bowlers.

This will be a fascinating tussle between both wicketkeepers in the final as both are probably right up there with the two best hands in the region. Douglas can certainly bat as well down the order and has often opened in years gone past.

Jarred Barnes: Right Hand lower order bat, opening right arm fast bowler. The big South African has had a quiet season to date but this could be the stage he can prove himself on. The North West Warrior has bowled well for the region and consistently for Coleraine and will be a key player in this final. His lower order hitting could win games on his own and is to be respected with the bat.

Richard Hepburn: Another all rounder right arm medium bowler. Originally a Donemana man, ‘Mackey’ will look forward to this opportunity to play against his boyhood club. Having played against Donemana for Brigade in recent years he has plenty of experience bowling in big matches. Hepburn can be a tricky bowler to face when there is a bit in the wicket and will be a good option to turn to.

Matthew Smyth: Bats in the lower order, right arm medium bowler. Matthew who is probably one of Coleraine best fielders can save plenty of runs at cover-point which will be a huge asset to have to restrict the Donemana run flow.

His canny medium paced bowling can be tricky to face and again will be a great option to have.