Thongsbridge will have to complete their quest for promotion to the Drakes Premiership without star overseas signing Brandon Mavuta.
The 19-year-old leg-spinner, who has picked up 58 wickets in the Jedi Sports Championship to help the Holme Valley side top the table with three matches left, has returned home to play for Zimbabwe A.
He will be missed by Thongsbridge, who take on Slaithwaite at Hill Top on Saturday, because his victims have come at just 15.43 apiece and his economy rate is 4.38 – very accurate for a leggie.
Mavuta – who captained Zimbabwe in the Under 19 World Cup – has also contributed 344 runs at just over 20, in addition to making a big impact with his fielding.
The Bridge, under the captaincy of Richard Wagstaff, have a three-point lead over Moorlands, who are in the other promotion slot ahead of their home clash with Clayton West.
Meltham are in third, only three behind Moorlands, as they travel to Linthwaite.
With 18 points still to play for, Rastrick are only five points off the promotion places in fourth as they entertain Holmfirth.
Thongsbridge will have a vital home meeting with Rastrick on September 3 before finishing their season at Kirkheaton on September 10.
In the Premiership, unbeaten leaders Delph & Dobcross go to Broad Oak, which means a shoot-out between the top two batsmen in the league – and the only two over 1,000 runs in league and cup for the summer.
Broad Oak’s Kiwi Henry Cooper currently leads the way with 1,057 runs at 62.18, but he is only nine runs ahead of Delph’s Lancashire prospect Chris Laker, who has 1,048 at 65.50.
Elland face Scholes at Hullen Edge knowing that if they don’t pick up a win, they will be relegated, while second-bottom Shelley can haul themselves nearer to safety by beating third-bottom Cawthorne at Dark Lane.
Marsden are 10 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship and desperately need a win at Kirkheaton, who are not out of the relegation woods themselves despite being fourth from bottom.
Only three points separate them from Denby in the second relegation spot with three matches to play – and Denby can go above third bottom Lascelles Hall with a win at Highfield Lane this weekend.
