CAPTAIN Richard Morris hopes Bashley can cope without the “heartbeat” of their side after confirming wicketkeeper Dan Friedman will be sidelined for the next two weeks.

The glovesman was forced to pull out of last week’s capitulation against Totton & Eling with a broken finger with Bash dismissed for just 110.

Gloucestershire youngster Brandon Gilmour, Friedman’s replacement last week, will remain behind the stumps at St Cross Symondians tomorrow, but Morris feels his team will miss Friedman’s character as much as his keeping.

The Bashley skipper told the Daily Echo: “Losing Dan is a big blow. He is the heartbeat of our team in the field and his enthusiastic nature on the pitch and around the team generally will be missed.

“He has matured into one of the best keepers in the league and gives us depth in our batting. He is desperate to get fit again but we think he will be out for at least a fortnight.”

Meanwhile, Morris says he can’t wait for Sunday’s derby date with New Milton in the Southern Electric Twenty20 Cup, with holders Bashley facing the in-form Division One outfit.

Morris added: “The draw has thrown up an exciting tie. As defending champions, we will be the team to beat and we will be taking the competition very seriously.”

Bashley: Thurgood, Terry, Digby, Morris, Gilmour, Vaughan, Watkins, Ridley, Neal, Grierson, Nash.

  • Elsewhere in the league, Premier Division strugglers Bournemouth have recalled Curtis Watton, Ryan Scott and Alex Allum for their trip to Totton & Eling. In Division One, Steve Watts, replaces Dan Loader for New Milton’s trip to Fawley.

Bournemouth: Miller, Keath, Hand, Scott, Allum, Coombs, Old, Watton, Smith, Wainwright, Choudhry.

New Milton: R Beck, L Beck, N Park, J Park, S Watts, G Watts, Tilbury, House, T Prodomo, Elliott, Gargaro.