Magpies boost for one-day return

Denmark are set to welcome back damaging all-rounder Hayden Collard and veteran Jeff Atkinson for their crucial clash with ladder-leaders Railways when the Albany Cricket Association A-grade one-day competition returns on Saturday.

After breaking for a three-week long Twenty20 competition, the regular one-day format returns this Saturday as the Magpies prepare to host the Tigers in the first 50-over per side match of the 2017-18 season.

Work commitments restricted Collard from playing any T20 games, but the pace bowler and hard-hitting, middle-order batsman will be a welcome inclusion for the Magpies at McLean Park.

Atkinson is yet to play a game this season, but also adds significant all-round value to the Magpies given he finished with 329 runs and 19 wickets last season.

The Magpies already boast English import Jujhar Johal in their top order, who has scored 189 runs in five one-day innings that included a century against Collingwood Park.

The Tigers are undefeated across all formats this season but they are unlikely to regain injured seamer Ryan Tindale for the away fixture.

Tindale has eight wickets at an average of 10 in the one-day competition, the same amount as Tigers skipper Zane Marwick who will again play an important role with the ball.

The emergence of youngster Hayden Davies is likely to see him used more with the ball this Saturday for the Tigers while Nathan Crudeli has overcome a back soreness and bowled his first over of the season last weekend in the T20s.

In the other round 6 fixtures before the competition breaks for Christmas and New Year, the winless Collingwood Park face the second-placed North County and Royals do battle with Manypeaks on Turf North.