LINTON PARK (Maidstone) are banking on their batting strength to see them into the quarter-finals of the npower national knockout village competition when they entertain Rowledge on Sunday (2pm).

The form of the top order batsmen has been a feature of Linton’s impressive progress to the last 16 of the competition.

“We have batted first in all our matches and, providing conditions are favourable and we win the toss, we will bat first on Sunday,” said skipper Dave Castle.

He expects formidable opposition from Rowledge who top the Southern Premier League Division Three and beat the fancied Langleybury, of Hertfordshire, in the last round.

Linton expect to be at full strength and will select from: Castle, Nigel Thirkell, Dan Thirkell, Paul Gibson, Craig Sands (wicketkeeper), Robert Doick, Stuart Morrison, Stuart Cheesman, Mark Christmas, Matt Large, John Taylor, Dennis Salisbury, Russell Baldwin.

Linton have twice won the competition before. In 1978 they beat Toft of Cheshire and in 1999 accounted for Woodhouse Grange from Yorkshire. The final will be at Lord’s on Sunday, August 22.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENT MESSENGER