Cricketers get set for a weekend return to matches

Garstang CC are set for a return to action this Saturday

With cricket trying to navigate a way forward following the coronavirus pandemic, the Northern Premier Cricket League and Moore and Smalley Palace Shield are staging localised round-robin leagues over the next couple of months.

The 40-over competition sees Garstang and Longridge paired with each other in Group B, along with Kirkham and Wesham, Preston, Great Eccleston and Fulwood.

The first round of matches takes place on Saturday with Garstang hosting Kirkham and Wesham, Longridge entertaining Preston and Great Eccleston at home to Fulwood.

The other matches in the group are as follows:

July 25: Fulwood v Garstang, Preston v Great Eccleston, Kirkham and Wesham v Longridge.

August 1: Garstang v Longridge, Great Eccleston v Kirkham and Wesham, Fulwood v Preston.

August 8: Preston v Garstang, Kirkham and Wesham v Fulwood, Longridge v Great Eccleston.

August 15: Great Eccleston v Garstang, Fulwood v Longridge, Preston v Kirkham and Wesham.

The other groups are as follows:

Group A: Blackpool, St Annes, Lytham, Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys.

Group C: Chorley, Eccleston, Euxton, Leyland, Penwortham and Vernon Carus.

Group D: Kendal, Lancaster, Morecambe and Netherfield.

Depending on their finishing positions, teams will then be divided into three new groups to play a further three matches each.

The top two in each group can then contest semi-finals and finals, with the competition to conclude on September 19.

The matches must take place under strict ECB guidelines, which means social distancing will be observed on the field.

Batsmen must run in specified running lanes to maintain their distance from the bowler and their fellow batter.

Speaking before the return to cricket was officially announced, Longridge bowler Ian Simpson was intrigued by the new competition.

He said: “From what I’ve seen, the Northern League have got a pretty good suggestion in place by regionalising and combining the two competitions.

“It gives us some regional, competitive cricket, as well as a minimum of five or six games, so we’d like to get going in mid-July.”