Hickey: Cannock will come back
Cannock skipper Liam Hickey is confident his team can overcome their recent slump, starting at Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Cannock skipper Liam Hickey is confident his team can overcome their recent slump, starting at Shrewsbury on Saturday.
The clash will see fourth play fifth, with Hickey's men currently trailing this weekend's opponents by a mere four points, after last weekend's seven-wicket loss to Halesowen – their second straight defeat after going unbeaten in the first six matches.
Hickey is nonetheless content with the start made by his side and believes they can rapidly rediscover their winning touch.
He said: "I'm hoping the last two weekends were a blip. I'm sure that's the case.
"We are a strong side and have the strength in depth to come back and do well.
"Shrewsbury have had a reasonable start. I know that when their university players join their team they become stronger.
"I think that's more than likely what will happen again. It's a key game, for sure."
Hickey will make two changes in a bid to revive their fortunes.
Dave Wright and Matt Pritchard are set to be handed their opportunity to impress.
Of Wright, he added: "He's been batting really well the last four or five weeks so I'm going to give him his chance.
"A change in the batting line-up will give us impetus going into the game."
Old Hill team manager Steve Derham has warned before Saturday's clash with Attock that there is more to come from his leaders.
Last weekend's winning draw at Stratford coupled with Bromsgrove's victory over Attock saw their lead cut to just two points.
An unbeaten half century from Jibran Khan helped Old Hill reach 211 but Stratford stubbornly held on to deny them the win.
Derham said: "Ideally we want to win, but if you lose the toss and get put in, then get a winning draw, you have to accept that. They are a strong side."
He added: "We are aware it's going to be tight on Saturday, what with Bromsgrove playing some high-quality cricket as well.
"But we are happy with where we are and we feel we have a little bit more to show yet."
Strike bowler Gemaal Hussain is expected to return from injury to provide a timely boost.
It is hoped Richard Jones will be fit to bowl after being restricted to a batting role last weekend.
Furthermore, the clash seems certain to have added spice as it will see Old Hill come up against former player Ruwait Khan, who now skippers Attock.
Halesowen travel to Harborne looking to continue their push with a win over their close rivals.
Mark Fisher's side can move into the top half of the table with another win, after they boosted their points tally with a morale-boosting success over Cannock last week.
Just six points separate Halesowen and Harborne in the mid-table positions so Fisher's men know even a winning draw on Saturday would see them leapfrog their opponents.
Former Pakistan A paceman Imran Ali was the star of last week's seven-wicket win, taking 6-24 to restrict Cannock to 105.
Halesowen then reached 108-3 in 31.4 overs.
