CAPTAIN Nick Davies has backed teenage duo Zafran and Omar Ali to make a big impact for Bromsgrove CC this season.

The teenagers have already shown signs of maturity beyond their years as they played an integral part in the Boars' 96 run win over Aston Unity on Saturday.

Bowler Zafran, aged 19, took an impressive 3-32, while 17-year-old cousin Omar continued his excellent form with the bat with a well played 39.

Davies tips the gifted young duo for the top.

He said: "Zaf's came on in great leaps since last summer.

"He's a great guy to have in the changing room because he's a lot of fun. Omar's going to be a good player.

"He's only 17 but has made a big impact already. He's also being signed up by Worcestershire and that was clever by them because he's going to get even better."

The duo are set to be in action as Bromsgrove have two vital home games over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

The Boars entertain Smethwick at St Godwald's on Saturday, May 27, before taking on Shifnal on Monday, May 29 (both matches 1pm start).

Davies said: "We have a tough weekend coming up but the team is looking forward to it. Smethwick aren't one of the division's stronger sides but they have a couple of good key players that can be dangerous.

"Shifnal are just promoted so they're a bit of an unknown quantity. That makes them a bit more dangerous than normal. But both games are at home and we will be trying to win both."

Bromsgrove go into the double header aiming to build on the convincing victory over Aston in the Birmingham and District League Division One. The captain praised the all round performance of his side.

He said: "The weather didn't look very good on Saturday but when we got to Aston the pitch was dry as a bone.

"We lost the toss and were put into bat but in the end that decision worked in our favour."

"The fielding and bowling was excellent. We didn't put a foot wrong. We had highlighted Aston as one of the division's weaker sides so it was great we got to play them. They may turn out to be the whipping boys this season.

"But a win is a win at the end of the day and there were a lot of positives to take out of the match."

With the bad weather hitting cricket matches hard over the weekend the captain is hoping that neither game is abandoned.

He said: "Hopefully the weather will be okay for the weekend. We've already missed a few games and we can't afford to have anymore abandoned."

Peter McKinney