Jon's NatWest battle (19 May 1999)

19 May 1999

Jon's NatWest battle

Pete Oliver

Earby professional Jonathan Harvey went into NatWest Trophy battle today hoping for another big score to get back amongst the runs.

Harvey started the season with an unbeaten 97 for the Lancashire Cricket Board against Cheshire in the English Cricket Board inter-county competition.

Runs have been harder to come by in the Ribblesdale League but a decent knock against the Dutch at Liverpool today could light the blue touch paper.

And it was certainly a game Harvey was looking forward to as he searches for his first win in the competition.

However, the Earby man, who was in the Hertfordshire side that lost to Gloucestershire a couple of years ago, was expecting a tough test.

"It will be a difficult game, no doubt about it. They are a lot more experienced than us.

"They are more or less first-class. No disrespect to the Minor Counties but they have played in World Cups and this sort of thing," said Harvey, who has welcomed the formation of the LCB side.

"I think a few of the lads hoped it would have happened a few years ago and I think it's good that the county is backing it.

"It's nice to be able to play that sort of competitive cricket," he added.

After today's clash, Harvey will turn his sights to a busy weekend as Earby look to make up for lost time with a league double-header.

After finishing sixth last season, Earby saw their first two games this summer washed out, and only picked up their first victory with a nine-wicket success at Baxenden last Saturday.

"I think we are confident enough but you just need a win early on. When we didn't play in the first two games and then went out of the knockout cup and lost the next two, it looks like we've had a terrible start, when we've only actually lost two league games," said Harvey, who still expects a repeat of last season's efforts to be on the cards.

"I will be disappointed if we aren't up there but there are just a few things people have to learn," he added.

Earby have a tough game at Whalley on Saturday and then 24 hours later face a derby clash with Barnoldswick at Victory Park.

"Whalley are a good side with a strong nucleus of players, and then we've got Barnoldswick in a local derby which should be a heated encounter so it's a big weekend," admitted Harvey.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph(https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)