Readers Durham Cricket League and Go North East NTSL

Mainsforth were one of the tips for the title in the Durham Cricket League, but after a frustrating weather beaten start to their campaign they have now been hit by the loss of overseas professional, Mohammad Nawaz.

The 23-year-old Pakistani, who had such an outstanding 2014 for the club, has been called up to the Pakistan development squad for international duty and will be lost to them for the summer. But Mainsforth have moved quickly to source a replacement, and whilst reluctant to divulge names until such time as the paperwork is approved, they are on the verge of bringing in another Pakistan player, an ex-international with 26 Test Match appearances to his name.

The current view is that the new overseas man may arrive next week, but in the meantime Mainsforth are able to include the returning Martin Lower, Stuart Ord and Gary Cummings in an otherwise full strength line-up at Horden today.

Esh Winning, another to suffer significantly at the hands of the weather, are at full strength for the visit of a severely depleted Castle Eden team. Liam Brown’s wedding, which many players are attending, means that just five regular first teamers will be at Esh today, and a lot will rest on the shoulders of stand-in skipper Alan Unsworth.

In Division Two Littletown hand a debut to new professional, Shashikant Kadam, who will come into direct opposition against his Mumbai teammate Siddharth Chitnis when his side entertain Seaham Park.

In the NTSL Anirudh Singh will get another opportunity to make it four centuries in consecutive innings when Ashington go to Swalwell, the Colliers able to include the returning Simon Prudhoe in place of Matthew Storey. Their hosts have James Welch definitely available which puts them at optimum strength.

Leaders Lanchester have a home game against struggling Annfield Plain, but Jersey international keeper Jake Dunford is unavailable and is replaced by Sam Reynolds. Kieran Taylor returns to the side. Plain, just outside the drop zone, are struggling with availability and injuries and have delayed naming their side.

Elsewhere Dan Pyke replaces the unavailable Mark Dixon when Consett travel to Ponteland, Alnmouth welcome back seasoned campaigner Ian Clough, as well as Robin Tudor when they play at Bedlington, champions Tynedale are unchanged for their trip to Percy Main, and with Graeme Angus out Phil Mellons is in the Shotley Bridge team to play Leadgate.