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Beware friendly fire!

Graham Hardcastle
5/ 7/2008

LANCASHIRE will come face to face with two old friends when they play Middlesex in Tuesday's Twenty20 Cup quarter-final at the Oval.

The Crusaders have stormed into the last eight, finishing top of their southern division.

Former Red Rose left-arm spinner Kartik Murali, who is now the overseas player down south, has claimed 11 wickets from eight 20-over matches.

The 31-year-old Indian left-arm spinner had two short spells at Old Trafford in 2005 and 2006, taking ten wickets on his debut in '05 and playing in the C&G Trophy Final in '06.

"He was successful when he was with us, he did really well. Let's hope that he doesn't do a top job against us," said cricket manager Mike Watkinson.

Watkinson also by-passed the opportunity to sign left-arm pace bowler Dirk Nannes, the 32-year-old Australian who is playing as a non-overseas player because of his Dutch parents.

Nannes trained at Old Trafford while professional at Northern League side Netherfield two seasons ago but Watkinson wanted to give his own youngsters a chance instead.

He said: "He is an individual character but the one thing that he did do was bowl quick when he was with us."