VIDARBHA’S double Ranji Trophy winning captain Faiz Fazal will start his second season for the Lisburn Cricket Club with a Twenty20 game against Church of Ireland Young Men’s Society (CIYMS) on Friday. Faiz had reached England on May 5 and was in quarantine there for ten days. He reached Lisburn four days back and will play his first match of Lagan Valley Steels Twenty20 Cup - 2021 that is a Northern Cricket Union of Ireland recognised tournament. This will be fourth match of the tourney for Lisburn and that team is languishing at seventh spot in the eight-team championship. Lisburn have four points from one win and two losses.

 

With the inclusion of all-rounder and their only international player Faiz, the team will be looking to earn some important points in the remaining four matches. Church of Ireland Young Men’s Society or simply CI as it is commonly known in sporting circles, is one of the oldest teams and is presently at fourth spot with six points. They have won one, lost one while one game was abandoned due to rains. It was raining heavily on Thursday there but all might be good by Friday as the match is an evening affair starting 6.30 pm local time (11 pm IST). Faiz, who scored an unbeaten 55 in his sole ODI appearance against Zimbabwe in June 2016, has committed to another season in the NCU Premier League after impressing in 2019. During the 2019 campaign, the 35-year-old played for a newly-promoted Lisburn where he hit 608 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.27, which included a high score of 139 against Bready in the Irish Senior Cup.

 

He also made an impact with the ball, collecting 14 wickets as he helped the Wallace Park side pick up three victories from their opening six league fixtures. Irish international Boyd Rankin and Northern Knights bowler Josh Manley, who both signed ahead of the shortened 2020 campaign, are also expected to return to Lisburn. Atharva making a mark ANOTHER southpaw Vidarbha top-order batsman Atharva Taide, who is in England since a month playing for Lancaster Cricket Club has had a mixed result so far. He has done well with the willow and also with his slow left-arm orthodox in the limited opportunities. Rajneesh cancels trip One of Vidarbha’s premier seam bowler, who would have loved to bowl in English conditions, decided against joining Colwyn Bay Cricket Club for the upcoming county season due to the prevailing COVID situation and other personal reasons.