FOLLOWING a much-improved performance against league leaders Stirling County last weekend, Greenock welcome Glasgow south side club Poloc to Glenpark tomorrow afternoon.

Poloc currently occupy a league position one above Greenock, but have three wins out of their five matches played while the Glenparkers have just one victory to show for their efforts so far this season in the WDCU Division One (West).

After a flying start to the league campaign, which brought three wins from their first three games, the Shawholm side have suffered two consecutive defeats over the last two Saturdays. Two weeks ago against Stenhousemuir at the Tryst, a fourth straight win looked on the cards when the hosts were dismissed for just 130 runs but Poloc themselves were then bowled out for 90.

Then, last Saturday at Shawholm, visitors Ferguslie compiled 299 for the loss of seven wickets and Poloc were bowled out for exactly 200 runs.

The south-side club will be smarting after these two reversals and will be keen to get back on the winning trail when they come to Glenpark tomorrow.

Key players in their side include Pakistani Syed Aslam, who has had a number of fine innings already this season, and South African youngster Malcolm Nofal, who also has recorded several fine scores, including 99 against Prestwick at the end of May and 56 last Saturday against Ferguslie.

Poloc also have a number of bowlers in their line-up who have had good success this season.

Hasseeb Zaker, Hamid Mahmood and youngster Intisham Malik have each had occasions when they provide fine performances with the ball and gave opposition teams a very difficult time.

The current Greenock side is very much in a transitional phase with a young side which needs to build experience and a ‘know-how’ to bat through a full innings.

Last Saturday at Stirling County the team did bat out the full 50 overs of their innings and posted a total requiring their opponents to score 200 runs to win. County achieved that goal and Greenock did fail to win the match but the local side must see their batting performance as a very positive achievement.

It was all the more laudable as it was two young teenagers who have come up through the junior ranks who were the mainstay of the innings.

Neil Flack, just 16 years of age, hit his maiden senior competitive century with an outstanding 117 not out, while 19-year-old Aidan Forrest scored 60 in a 186 run partnership with Flack.

These two young players showed what can be achieved with application and their team-mates must try and show the same attitude, concentration and willingness to build partnerships at Glenpark tomorrow afternoon. Greenock will be without a number of 1st XI regulars this week. Aussie amateur and opening pace bowler Tom Batters misses out due to a relative’s wedding in Preston, Chris Hempsey has an injury, and out too, also through injury, is Mark Crichton. Still missing from the Greenock line-up is wicketkeeper/batsman Alex Baum who played for Scotland Under-19s in the Under-19 World Cup in February but who has, as yet, has not been available for selection this season.

Back into the 1st XI this weekend comes another of Greenock’s promising young players’ 14-year-old Harry Briggs.

Despite his tender years, Briggs has gained quite significant experience already at 1st XI level and last weekend scored 43 for the 2nd XI against Stirling County 2nd XI at Glenpark and 75 not out (retired) against Inverclyde in a friendly on Sunday.

Also featuring will be another extremely promising 14-year-old player, Louis Ware.

He has already gained selection along with Briggs for the Western Warriors under-15 side.

He is a tall, very pacey bowler who has been taking wickets regularly in the 2ndXI and also scoring runs.

Sam Sanghera, a useful all-rounder with experience of playing in the 1st XI from time to time, also moves up tomorrow.

Greenock will undoubtedly look to West Indian amateur Dwight Thomas to get amongst the runs against Poloc. If he can get into his stride, Thomas has the ability to score a major innings and he will be hoping to do so in front of the home support against the south–siders. The Greenock team to play Poloc in the WDCU Division One West League match at Glenpark tomorrow with a noon start will be from: SS Prabhu, HJ Briggs, GR Crichton, ND Flack, AP Forrest, JPC Hempsey, GJ McDougall, BR Peterson, SS Sanghera, DK Thomas, L Ware. Scorer: B Roberts.

Greenock 2ndXI (Glenpark) are away to Poloc 2nd XI (Shawholm) in a WDCU Reserve Division One match which starts at 1pm tomorrow at Shawholm, Glasgow.

l Greenock Cricket Club is proudly sponsored by Cleaning. Supplies 4U.