Nationwide House bring Mark into the Flay (From Swindon Advertiser)

Nationwide House bring Mark into the Flay

8:00am Friday 19th August 2011 in Cricket By Ned Payne

THE cricketing hierarchy at Nationwide House have tinkered with their team selection ahead of this weekend’s WEPL Wiltshire Division visit to Malmesbury.

Two of these changes are enforced as Nick and Jon Clarke are away, but a chance has also been handed to Mark Flay following his impressive performances with the second team.

Skipper Joe Perkins explained: “With the Clarkes on holiday in the Isle of Wight we have like-for-like replacements in John Reivers and Darren Milne.

“JR has been smashing the ball to all parts in midweek and for the twos on a Saturday, so the challenge is to see a really big innings in the ones to cement his place.

“Darren Milne has been patiently putting together some good knocks when we have collapsed in recent games, so needs us to set a platform for him to really flourish in this game.

“We also welcome back Mark Flay after some decent innings in the twos and the responsibility of a top order slot will definitely be a test that Fizza will really be up for.”

Steve Lewis and Andy Lewis both collected four-wicket hauls in Nationwide’s five-wicket defeat of Spye Park last weekend and they are part of the same attack that lines up this time, with the likes of Stuart Archer and Nathan Sheffield retaining their berths.

“The bowling unit is understandably unchanged after a fine performance last week, but now that the standard has been set,” added Perkins.

“There will be no let up for them as another huge performance is required to maintain or better our position in the league.”

Nationwide are seventh in the Wiltshire Division at present, three places off fourth, which would be their best-ever finish.

However, they must record positive results this weekend, and subsequently against Great Bedwyn and Marlborough if they are to climb the table.

“We are really looking forward to travelling to Malmesbury this weekend for what we have labelled the start of our ‘big three’,” said Perkins.

“It certainly is a mark of our efforts as a squad that we really want to finish the season on a high, and see where we can end up in the league table.”

Elsewhere in the division tomorrow, second-placed Lechlade face arguably their toughest test of the season so far when they take on table-toppers Winsley.

Wootton Bassett, comfortable in third place, make the trip to relegation-threatened Calne.

• SWINDON’S bowling attack will have a markedly different look about it this weekend when they take on Trowbridge in the WEPL Glos/Wilts Division.

The seam-bowling duo Will Nichols and Dan Harris returns as does swing specialist George Rigali, the trio having missed out last weekend due to unavailability. Tom Foreman, Kyle Richards and Adam Tribbick have all made way.

Swindon captain Liam Tucker said: “They are one position above us in the league but we did pretty well against them at our place earlier in the year.

“We bowled them out for about 80 although they were missing one of their main players.

“Getting Adeel Malik out seems to be the key as he scored 50 per cent of their runs, he’s going to be a big wicket for us.”

Tomorrow’s game will be a nostalgic experience for Tucker, who has not turned out on the firsts pitch at Trowbridge since his teenage years.

“I haven’t played there since my under 14 days,” he revealed.

“We believe we’re good enough to beat Trowbridge or anyone in the league, but if you have an off-day then any team will fancy their chances against you.”

Elsewhere, Goatacre, who look all-but certain to win the title barring a freak turnaround, are away to fourth-placed Rockhampton.