The Drakes League’s ‘unstoppable force’ and ‘immovable object’ are set to clash in the Sykes Cup on Sunday.

Billed as the unstoppable force is Honley seamer Ritchie Howarth, who picked up 11 wickets for just 24 runs last weekend in their Premiership win over Skelmanthorpe and Sykes Cup success at Elland.

In the second round of the arrowselfdrive-sponsored knockout, however, he is up against the ‘immovable force’ of Kirkburton batsman Asif Hussain at Far End Lane (1pm).

Hussain, 35, is the leading run-scorer in first XI cricket so far for the Riley Lane outfit, hitting 411 runs in just four innings at an average of 205.5.

The former first-class player from Faisalabad was 92 not out in their held-over first-round win at Lascelles Hall, after hitting 61 in the top-flight defeat against Barkisland the previous day.

The battle between joint league leaders Honley and seventh-placed Burton, whose attack is led by Craig Fletcher and Tom Burkinshaw, will be one of the highlights of Sunday’s draw, which also features joint-top Scholes visiting fourth-placed Hoylandswaine, who are without suspended opening batsman Alex Morris.

There will be an interesting discussion over the cornflakes on Sunday morning in one household, however, as Swaine’s West Indian opening bowler Kesrick Williams is sharing accommodation with Scholes’ New Zealand-based batting duo Joe Carter and Pete Drysdale!

The other all-Premiership tie is at Broad Oak, where Shelley are the visitors for what could be a very close contest.

Sykes Cup cricket - Lascelles Hall v Kirkburton - Kirkburton bowler Craig Fletcher.

Top-flight Moorlands and Golcar will be confident of defeating respective opponents Kirkheaton and Linthwaite, as they are the bottom two in the Jedi Sports Championship, and Shepley should topple Meltham at home, while Marsden could possibly have the best chance of causing an upset.

Fifth in the Championship, they are on home soil at Hemplow against Barkisland, but the Calderdale men are going well and moved up into third in the Premiership last weekend when beating Kirkburton by four wickets thanks to 89 from Jamie Summerscales.

The other tie could be the most intriguing as it guarantees a team from the Cedar Court Conference will be in the last eight.

Thurstonland are at home to third-tier leaders Rastrick, who are fresh from ousting Premiership side Skelmanthorpe thanks largely to the joint efforts of Jacob Waterson – who has an average of 320 with the bat – and Australian all-rounder Mitchell McCoach, who picked up four for 23.

Rastrick and Thurstonland meet each other in the league at Round Hill on Saturday, too, so by the end of the weekend they will be sick of the sight of each other.

It’s also the second round of the Fired Up Paddock Shield for second XIs on Sunday, where the top ties are Barkisland v Hoylandswaine and Skelmanthorpe v Kirkburton, while Elland’s in-form Michael Midwood will be looking to pick off Scholes at Chapelgate.

Sykes Cup draw: Hoylandswaine v Scholes, Honley v Kirkburton, Moorlands v Kirkheaton, Golcar v Linthwaite, Shepley v Meltham, Broad Oak v Shelley, Thurstonland v Rastrick, Marsden v Barkisland.

Fired Up Paddock Shield draw: Scholes v Elland, Slaithwaite v Almondbury, Cumberworth v Birkby Rose Hill, Skelmanthorpe v Kirkburton, Armitage Bridge v Honley, Cawthorne v Golcar, Barkisland v Hoylandswaine, Thongsbridge v Marsden.