YORK will be well aware of the threat posed by overseas talent as they take on Cleethorpes in the Oxbridge Yorkshire League tomorrow.

As forecast in this column last week, India provided one of the main threats to York's fortunes at Hull, as Amit Dani hammered an unbeaten 76 against the York bowlers.

However, this weekend the threat could come from Pakistan as Shadab Kabir is aiming to show off his batting skills for the Lincolnshire visitors to Clifton Park.

It was Kabir who splattered Harrogate's bowling all round St George's Road with an innings of 104 last month, and he was in great form the week before last with an unbeaten 40 at Hull.

However, Kabir is not the only threat York face tomorrow as Cleethorpes have been rocket assisted in their lift off into the top half of the latest league table with an unbeaten innings of 116 by Neil Wheeler, who has been in great form with the bat.

Presently in ninth place and way out of contention for league honours, York must look back on their last two results as learning opportunities for the younger members of their squad, who should relax and go out to enjoy their cricket and build on their batting and bowling skills for the rest of the season.

Even so, York's skipper Nigel Durham will be looking for better things from his front order batsmen after last week's collapse at Hull's ground The Circle.

They will need to be on form to counterbalance the strong Cleethorpes batting line-up that includes Willie Abe, who scored 74 last Sunday, and Richard Green (60) against Barnsley.

Ed Senneck is missing from York's bowling attack this week as he is involved in a University game, so Michael Mortimer retains his place in the York side.

Mark Cowell is missing from Scarborough's line-up this weekend for the visit of Castleford to North Marine Road - Chris Allen takes Cowell's place.

Cowell is involved in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League side that takes on the York League at Osbaldwick on Sunday.

Harrogate's Peter Hepworth and Anthony Burton have been forced to withdraw from the Yorkshire League side as they are involved in the National Club KO Area Final at Wickersley, near Rotherham, on Sunday at 1.30pm.

Harrogate, who have moved into second place a single point behind Sheffield United, have Driffield as Yorkshire League visitors.

Castleford did Harrogate a big favour last Sunday by extracting six to two from their clash with Doncaster.

Rotherham visit Scarborough on Sunday in the Yorkshire League Knock Out.

Replacements still have to be confirmed for Hepworth and Burton in Sunday's Yorkshire League representative side at Osbaldwick, but the rest of the Yorkshire League side is expected to include Simon Widdup (Doncaster), Richard Kettleborough and Ed McKenna (Collegiate), Richard Dawson, Simon Guy (both Doncaster), Mark Cowell (Scarborough), Jon Trower (Sheffield United) and Tom Baker (Yorkshire Academy).

The semi-finals of the Minster Engineering Senior Charity Cup will be played next week with Clifton Alliance taking on Osbaldwick at Acomb on Monday, and then Heworth face Wilberfoss at Osbaldwick on Thursday.

Both matches will start at 6.15pm and the final will be staged at Clifton Park on Thursday, July 13.