Semi-final preview.......................................................................................

Mohammad Zaman

The draw for today's semi-finals has thrown up two mouth-watering ties.

Holders Pudsey Congs are at home to those renowned cup campaigners East Bierley, while last season's beaten finalists Cleckheaton entertain Woodlands.

By a strange quirk the sides met in last week's Division One programme. Congs won by five wickets at East Bierley, while Cleckheaton defeated Woodlands by 15 runs at Albert Terrace.

Cleckheaton have now beaten the champions twice this season and Woodlands will have their work cut out preventing John Wood's men from competing a hat-trick.

If Woodlands are to gain revenge and reach their fifth final in six seasons, they will need to bat with greater conviction than they have done in recent matches.

Their bowling attack of Safraz Ahmed, Pieter Swanepoel, Richard Spittlehouse, Tosh Baker and Chris Brice is a potent force, but it is time the batsmen gave them some help.

Scott Richardson

Players like Scott Richardson, Sam Frankland and Tim Orrell are potential match winners and they will need to be at their best to counter the menace of Cleckheaton's well balanced attack.

Seamers Ian Wardlaw, Craig Wiseman, John and Ian Wood are backed up by the leg spin of Tom Pringle and the occasional spin of Mohammad Zaman.

Cleckheaton's batting has also been inconsistent and has had a strong reliance on Mohammad Zaman. Skipper John Wood will be hoping that Craig Thornton, a player who has made a number of key contributions this season, is fit to play after suffering a leg injury in the win at Woodlands last week.

Holders Pudsey Congs will be boosted by the presence of Essex all-rounder James Middlebrook. His presence means Congs will have three front line spinners with Middlebrook supporting the in-form Jeremy Batty and Glenn Roberts.

Middlebrook will also strengthen a batting line up which has been well served in recent week by Andrew Bairstow and Babar Butt.

Congs have bags of big match experience, but they know that East Bierley are formidable opponents.

East Bierley's batting is full of strokeplayers with men like Greg Wood , Andrew Rennison, skipper Gavin Hamilton, Gharib Razak and Lee Goddard capable of getting quick runs.

The bowling has not always been as effective as they would like and the absence of opening bowler Chris Elstub will not help.

Andrew Bairstow	Greg Wood