Rankin returns in some style

CRICKET/ WEEKEND PREVIEW: IRELAND OPENING bowler Boyd Rankin has made a successful return from injury by picking up four wickets on his Warwickshire debut against Essex at Edgbaston.

The 6ft 8in Derry native injured his shoulder in a fall prior to the first County Championship game of the season and has also suffered stress fractures to his leg and foot in the last couple of years.

Although Rankin is unlikely to play in Ireland's upcoming One Day International series against Kenya in Belfast, he could take part in the two Intercontinental Cup clashes away to Namibia and Kenya in October.

The recent bad weather continues to create havoc in the fixtures list with today's scheduled Antalis Leinster Senior Cup Final having been moved back to Saturday August 30th. That was to allow North County and Railway Union to complete their semi-final and the two sides will try again at Balrothery today (10.30am).

The forecast is for more rain, which could see the sides having to finish the semi-final off next week, with play continuing from Monday evening until a conclusion. If no result is possible before next Friday, a bowl-out will decide who goes on to meet defending champions Clontarf in the decider.

Both sides are at full strength for the encounter, and with four Ireland internationals playing on either side it should prove an exciting contest.

Two of those, Railway's Kenny Carroll and John Mooney of North County, have not played international cricket this summer, although the pair have been included in the Ireland A squad for their upcoming defence of the European Championships in the Netherlands.

Both sides are in action in the Whitney Moore League tomorrow, where Railway Union could all but secure promotion to Section A with a win over YMCA.

Railway have had to give up home advantage and will play the game at Claremont Road after their Park Avenue pitch was deemed unplayable after the recent rain. North County travel to Rathmines, where a convincing victory over Leinster could see them go top of Section A.

Meanwhile, Ed Joyce will captain England Lions in their game against South Africa at Derby today. He won't be the only Irishman in action as Eoin Morgan, who scored a century against the tourists for Middlesex earlier in the summer, has also been included in the squad.

Teams and Fixtures

NORTH COUNTY(From) - A Botha (Capt), C Armstrong, D Armstrong (wkts), D De Cruz, C Garry, D Harper, R Lawrence, J Mooney, A Murphy, E Richardson, B Shields, R Strydom.

RAILWAY UNION- T Johnston, G Carroll, K Carroll, T Copeland, T Fisher, T Fourie, C Mullen, K O'Brien, J Rogan (wkts), M Tariq, S Ullah.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY: Antalis Leinster Senior Cup Semi-final: North County v Railway Union, Balrothery, 10.30.

SUNDAY: WMK League (12.30) - Section A: Leinster v North County, Rathmines. Section B: Old Belvedere v CYM, Cabra; Pembroke v Munster Reds, Sydney Parade; YMCA v Railway Union, Claremont Road.