HAVE-BAT will travel York Cricket Club leader Dan Woods will be hoping to avoid a miserable captain’s slog tomorrow night.

The skipper of the Clifton Parkers crew is seeking another league victory at home to North Yorkshire rivals Scarborough to tighten their grip on retaining the Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League crown.

If victory is delivered then not only will it strengthen the title challenge and put York in good fettle for Sunday’s Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy semi-final on Sunday, but will also speed Woods’ long trek to Bournemouth tomorrow ahead of skippering Cheshire against Dorset in the Minor Counties Championship.

Said Woods: “If we beat Scarborough it will make the journey to the south coast all the better. But it will be a nightmare trip if we lose.”

However, the spin bowler viewed the club’s double task as far from easy.

Surveying tomorrow’s league derby, Woods said that Scarborough’s current below mid-table position did not reflect the Seasiders’ potency.

“We had a cracking game against them in the first match of the season when Andrew Simpson hit 150 for them,” said Woods.

“They have a very strong batting line-up and you have to be a decent player to appear for Scarborough. It will be a tough challenge.”

For the visit of Scarborough, seasoned wicket-keeper Nigel Durham returns behind the stumps and bowler Matthew Hodsdon drops out.

With Woods on his Minor Counties mission – he has led Cheshire to two consecutive conquests this term – Hodsdon will return to the side for the Black Sheep semi-final at Drakes Huddersfield League outfit Hoylandswaine on Sunday.

Vice-captain Nick Kay is also missing the Sabbath showdown, so Simon Lambert is drafted into the starting XI, which will be led by opening batsman Duncan Snell.

York’s strength in depth was now coming to the fore as the club pursued no fewer than five trophies this term, insisted Woods.

“We are not just a first XI, we also have a strong second team, so that means we have a squad of 15 or 16 players who can be called on if they are needed,” he said.

“If we want to do well, then it’s so important to have a squad of such strength.”