York'S first team could be forgiven if they find themselves quaking in their boots ahead of tomorrow's visit of Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League at Clifton Park (1pm).

What is more, York's skipper, Nigel Durham, would be well-advised to do everything he can to make sure he wins the toss. Otherwise, York could be facing a mammoth total to chase should their visitors opt to bat first.

The problem, of course, is that New Zealand's opening bat, Matthew Sinclair, could be on the trail of his fourth double century in the league if he is allowed to get his eye in against the York bowlers on a wicket that will suit him down to the ground.

He has scored almost 800 runs in his nine visits to the crease since taking Cleethorpes by storm this season.

The 25-year-old Test opener will be celebrating his recent selection to play for New Zealand in a Tri-Nations series next month when he expects to miss three weeks of Yorkshire League action.

He is not the only big fish to have represented New Zealand in the Yorkshire League, however.

The league can count on threeother famous Kiwi batters who enjoyed their stays over here - Martin Crowe, Bryan Young and Mark Greatbatch.

Last summer, Sinclair marked his New Zealand Test debut with a sparkling double century against the West Indies at Wellington and last season he had a State District average of more than 100 runs.

So it will not be surprising if a large contingent of autograph hunters were not at Clifton Park with their fingers crossed that one of the York bowlers might claim his early wicket.

That unexpected occurence has happened three times in the last five weeks, including a caught behind by Doncaster's 15-year-old wicket-keeper, Andrew Chadwick.

Sinclair had faced two deliveries for two runs when Chadwick made a name for himself by holding a brilliant catch behind the stumps to put a premature stop to the Kiwi's batting antics.

Proving that he is not completely infallible, Sinclair has since fallen for seven and 14 runs in the last five weeks.

But last Saturday he was back in more imperious form with a stylish 73 not out against Scarborough.

Following hard on the heels of Cleethorpes' visit tomorrow, York travel on Sunday to Abbeydale Park, who hammered Harrogate by 83 runs at St George's Road last weekend.

York have their fingers crossed that they will be able to field an unchanged side in both games.

However, there could be a doubt over the availability of Greg How, who is now in the throws of moving away from the area.

Hoping to put the ten-wicket defeat by Cleethorpes behind them, Scarborough are unchanged for their trip to Barnsley tomorrow and against Driffield on Sunday at North Marine Road, although there is a possibility that Vic Craven could be on county duty on Sunday.

Harrogate hope to make amends for last Saturday's defeat when they travel to Castleford tomorrow.

On Sunday, 'Gate could find themselves struggling against Hull if the Humbersiders' Indian all-rounder, Amit Dani, produces another big score at St George's Road.

However, if veteran all-rounder Peter Hepworth can produce another seven-wicket haul as he did against Collegiate last weekend, there might be a different story to tell.

Updated: 12:25 Friday, June 22, 2001