Batten down the hatches – the Drakes League’s big two are ready for a shoot-out with an IPL star involved!

Spring Bank Weekend, of course, means a Saturday-Monday double header in the Drakes League Premiership.

And while the joint leaders, Shepley and Delph, are at home to Skelmanthorpe and Cawthorne respectively in the Saturday programme – they go head-to-head at Delph’s Huddersfield Road ground on Monday.

That means the division’s leading wicket-taker, Shepley’s Jamal Nasir, taking on the most powerful batsman – Delph’s Lancashire all-rounder Arron Lilley.

But Delph are also boosted by the arrival of Indian batsman and overseas signing Shree Goswami, who brings with him five List A centuries, a first-class best of 112 not out and experience of the IPL with hometown Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

IPL batsman Shreevats Goswami has signed for Delph & Dobcross

He reported an enjoyable first practice with his new club, alongside Old Trafford T20 Blast winner Lilley, who has plundered 507 runs already in just seven games and is averaging 101.40.

Lilley was in the Lancashire second XI squads for the mid-week T20s against Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

Nasir, however, has picked up his 26 wickets at a miserly 8.31 each for Shepley, so it promises to be an enthralling battle.

Delph are not short of bowling power themselves, however, as Lilley and new signing Muhammad Shakir from Saddleworth have picked up 15 wickets apiece.

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So Shepley’s Australian batsman Daniel Anderson will have to be watchful to add to his 360 runs so far (he averages exactly 60), while Dan Wood is one short of 200 and Tom Denton not far behind.

Delph are the early favourites, though, and it’s understandable following their record limited overs 528 in the Sykes Cup and the fact that behind Lilley, they have four more batsmen in the Premiership’s top 20.

They are Greg Buckley (267 runs at 44.50), Lancashire’s Chris Laker (265 at 44.17), skipper Andrew Gleave (248 at 35.43) and Graeme Simpson (208 at 41.60), so the arrival of Goswami after receiving clearance paperwork in India simply adds fuel to the fire.