THE MOTE, the Maidstone-based cricket club, are hoping to be bolstered by Kent’s Alamgir Sheriyar and Alex Loudon for one of the biggest games in their long history on Saturday.

The team entertain high-riding Whitstable desperately needing a 20-point maximum tally in the bid to preserve their Kent League Premier Division status.

In a nail-biting climax to the season, The Mote are one of four teams battling to avoid relegation. Two teams go down and The Mote, who have never been out of the top flight, are bottom of the table.

They have 138 points, six points behind Tunbridge Wells and seven adrift of Broadstairs. Fourth from bottom 18 points ahead of The Mote are Medway side Lordswood.

“Unfortunately, our fate is not in our hands,” said skipper James Barr. “It depends on what other teams do.”

Batsman Chris Back will return for The Mote, but they are likely to be without Barr, who has split the webbing in his hand again.

But Barr is confident that his men can get the better of Whitstable after outplaying them earlier in the season.