CHURCH pro Ruvin Peiris is praying the old rhythm returns quickly when he finally gets back out in the middle.
The Sri Lankan's half century in his match-winning performance at Accrington four weeks ago provided signs of his batting touch returning, after he had scratched around for runs earlier in the season.
The all-rounder is also one of the Lancashire League's most heavily utilised bowlers, but has not bowled a ball in anger since his six-wicket haul at Thorneyholme Road on 17 June.
And with Ramsbottom's defeat to Rawtenstall the only fixture to survive last weekend's washout, Peiris admits the long period of inactivity is proving something of a downer.
He said: "I'm worried about the weather because I came here to play cricket. If you're not practising and bowling it's difficult to get a rhythm. It gets quite boring. I was bowling really well and the batting was getting better in the last three or four innings - when I scored a couple of 50s.
"Most of the players get frustrated when the rains happen and they cannot play. And I think most of the club are unhappy at the moment because they cannot earn money from the bar."
Providing the elements relent, Church will resume after their midsummer 'break' with a home fixture against high-flying RISHTON tomorrow, followed by a trip to Rawtenstall on Sunday.
But despite the catalogue of matches to be fitted in to reserve dates later in the campaign, Peiris is unconcerned about fixture congestion.
In fact he and chairman Don Holt have arranged a charity challenge match between a Lancashire League Invitation XI and Crusaders Australia XI, to be played on Tuesday 17 July at Church's Blackburn Road ground.
The 50 over contest should provide plenty of thrills and spills, featuring several professionals and former first class players.
As well as Peiris, players booked for the match include his fellow Sri Lankan professionals Bathiya Perera, Prince Bradman, and A. Rideegammangedera, Rishton's Saeed Anwar and East Lancs pro Shanan Stewart.
Rishton and ENFIELD are facing up to a hectic weekend, after their 20/20 semi final clash was put back a week to this evening.
Two successive league trips for Rishton start with Church tomorrow, and conclude with a visit to Todmorden. The club will be hoping for a dry weekend as they bid to extend their unchanged 18-point margin over second-placed East Lancashire.
Enfield face another local derby with ACCRINGTON tomorrow at Dill Hall Lane, before travelling to Burnley on Sunday, as they look to get back to winning ways.
Accrington will go in search of a second league win of the campaign at Enfield tomorrow, before entertaining Haslingden the following day.
