DORCHESTER and Bere Regis will this time hope to avoid bad weather as the two sides prepare to face off in the Dorset League T20 phase at Dorchester Rec tomorrow (1pm).
Last month, both sides were unbeaten going into their 50-over clash only for persistent rain to wipe the fixture out without a ball being bowled.
This weekend, the forecast is equally grim but there are key differences to the copy book.
Dorchy are aiming to bounce back after a shock double loss at Swanage, while Bere have a 100 per cent record after twice seeing off Martinstown.
Speaking to Echosport, home skipper Gautham Rajendar said: “Looking at the forecast, I’d say we’d be lucky to get the games on.
READ MORE: Dorchester stunned twice by Swanage in T20
“But yes, it’s always competitive when playing Bere.”
He added: “We’re not really thinking about Swanage to be honest. Instead, make the most of the next two weeks in this format.
“More of the same from last week, get everyone to bat and bowl and not read too much into the results for us.”
For Bere captain Brian Keegan, one of the big challenges tomorrow is doing without last week’s match-winners Cam Robertson and Tim Goodhew.
“We’ve got quite a changed side,” he admitted.
“There’s 11 cricketers there and they’re all capable of contributing, playing attacking cricket.
“We go into it with our eyes wide open because of the change of personnel and we’ll change tactics slightly.”
Dorchester Seconds visit Sturminster & Hinton in County Division Two, while Dorchester Thirds and Fourths travel to Milborne St Andrew and host Royal Challengers Seconds in Division Six West and East respectively (all 1pm tomorrow).
Bere Regis Seconds host Cerne Valley at Bere Regis Rec in Division Two tomorrow (1pm).
At the time of writing, Dorchester were yet to finalise their matchday squad.
Bere: Anderson, B Keegan, J Keegan, Kennard, Macklin, Munnings, Murphy, Payne, Rogerson, Green, White.
Bere main sponsor: Booth Gadenne.
Bere first XI match ball sponsor: GMS Plumbing and Heating.
Bere second XI match ball sponsor: Dorset Reclamation.
Elsewhere in the T20 South West division, Martinstown visit red-hot Swanage tomorrow (1pm).
Charlie Durant’s men will have to stop a Mike Salmon-inspired Swans from making it four wins in four, while also keeping alive their slim hopes of winning the group.
And the Town skipper goes into the game safe in the knowledge that his side has already beaten Swanage in the 50-over format this season.
“It will be an interesting game,” Durant said. “They are potentially more suited to this format than we are.
“They've got (Salmon) who scored an unbelievable ton last week. I don’t think there’s anything necessarily to fear but we’ve got to be wary.
“They’re a good side and gave us a very good game a couple of weeks back. We’ll have to be at our best if we want to win both games.
“If we’re to go through then we’ve got to win every game from now and hope that Dorch beat Bere.”
Martinstown Seconds host Cheselbourne in Division Four tomorrow (1pm).
Martinstown (from): Lewis, Ry Gerety, S Williams, F Williams, Hill, Kane, Samways, J Gerety, Kepple, Durant, Coombs, Harris.
Back in the regular format, all eyes are on Division One as Portland Red Triangle host Weymouth in a mouthwatering derby at Reforne tomorrow (1pm).
The two rivals have divergent form, with Triangle having lost their last four matches and Weymouth boasting a four-game winning streak.
Triangle skipper Matt Randell, fresh off a century last week, said: “We’re not too fussed, we’re just going to focus on ourselves and get back to how we want to be playing cricket.
“All of our energy’s just going to be focused on us and what we want to get from the game.
“It’s no bigger than any other game we want to win.”
Weymouth captain Lloyd Beals also downplayed the derby.
He said: “If you look at the form tables, we’ve certainly had a better month or so.
“However, my care for Portland’s ambitions or league position is very low.
“In terms of bragging rights or how badly I’d like to beat them, I don’t set my stall out to get excited over beating Portland or anyone else.”
Portland welcome back all-rounder Simon Proffitt, batter Ryan Price and bowler Joe Adkins, while handing a first-team debut to new signing Wahidullah Sahibzada.
Weymouth are without all-rounder Tim Guyett after he fractured and dislocated a shoulder in the field during an Evening League game at Plush in midweek.
He is replaced by Cube Whyte, while seamer Adam Hoyes, spinner Shafeek Urumancheri and batter Kieron Womble return at the expense of Pete and Jack Sapsworth plus John Wilson.
Portland’s seconds visit Lytchett in Division Five, while Weymouth Seconds host Hamworthy Seconds in Division Four (both 1pm tomorrow).
Triangle: Proffitt, M Barrett, D Adkins, Randell, Munro, Price, J Marsh, Samuel, Potts, J Adkins, Sahibzada.
Weymouth: Haylock, Womble, Walton, Gregory, England, Wills, Beals, Whyte, Urumancheri, Hoyes, Ahmad.
Portland main sponsor: A2Z Landscaping.
Weymouth matchday sponsor: Active Mobility.
In Division Two, Puddletown are hoping to "bounce back" from a four-wicket loss at Sturminster & Hinton when they entertain Broadstone Seconds tomorrow (1pm).
Adam Barrett’s men are ninth of the 10 teams in a competitive league but is optimistic better results are around the corner when availability improves.
He said: “We played their first team a few years ago and I’ve seen a few of their names that we played back then are playing in the twos now.
“We’ve just got to bounce back.
“Most weeks we’re either bowling well or batting well, but we need to put it all together and really produce a result to try and propel us out of the bottom two.
“We’re a lot stronger this week on paper, which will help. Hopefully we can put a run of results together now and start making our way up the table.”
Pete Phillips, Dave Morris, Chris Clarke and Evie Snow all return to the fold.
Puddletown Seconds visit Broadstone Thirds in Division Five tomorrow (1pm).
Puddletown: Barrett, Knight, D Morris, J Morris, Clarke, Derrien, R Snow, E Snow, Phillips, Edwards, Ennals.
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