After a difficult start to their season, Barrow Cricket Club will be able to welcome overseas player Dineth Thimodya into their team, which has come as a huge boost to captain Glenn Kermode.

Sri Lankan Thimodya hasn't played in Barrow's first three games of the season in the Northern Premier League, which have all ended in defeat, although other commitments have led to the unavailability of several other important players.

In fact, so stretched were their resources last weekend, they were only able to field ten players in their T20 match at Netherfield last Sunday, with most of those being drafted from the second team or junior sides.

Kermode said: "Dineth being in the side will strengthen the batting. Toby [Mowat] obviously did really well last week with Daz [Daryl Wearing], that was a real positive, so with Dineth up there that will add a bit more strength to our line-up.

"We had a number of players missing the first game of the season because of a wedding, then there have been just a few other issues as well, unfortunately, that have been out of my control as captain.

"We're hoping to get a full-strength side out over the next few weeks and with Dineth arriving, that will be a massive boost for the club."

Defeat at home to Fleetwood, despite an improved batting display, left the Ernest Pass side at the foot of the table with just two points to their name.

They'll be away at Longridge this afternoon, with their hosts making a reasonable start to life in the division after winning promotion last year.

Kermode said: "We've never played against them but we're hoping that we can build on our batting performance from last week. Bowling-wise, we've just got to play it by ear - Toby is struggling with a bit of an ankle injury at the moment, but then that gives someone like Sam Henderson and Jordan Nicholson the chance to take the new ball."