Newport go into their second double header weekend of the season determined to make up lost ground in the Marston’s Shropshire Premier Cricket League title race.
The Audley Avenue men travel to Broseley tomorrow before hosting Shelton on Sunday, two teams who are struggling at the wrong end of the table.
And chairman Bob Williams underlined the importance of a hefty points haul. He said: “The last time we played back to back matches, we got ourselves into what looked like winning positions, only to find things going the other way.
“We cannot afford a repeat of that this time.”
But while Newport will be able to choose from a full squad for the Broseley game, they will be without two key players 24 hours later.
“Both our Indian pro Adu and opening batsman Paul Furniss are unavailable for the Shelton game,” added Williams. “Both have proved key players for us this season and we shall miss them.
“But with the second team in such good form, there are plenty of permutations available.”
The duo who will miss Sunday’s game were instrumental in Newport’s 45-run victory over Allscott last weekend.
Opening batsman Furniss held the home innings together with a battling 62 as Newport closed on a hard earned 153-9 on a pitch that was giving plenty of help to the spinners.
And when Allscott came to bat they found exactly the same difficulties as Adu ripped through their line-up to finish with 6-44 as the visitors were dismissed for just 108 in 32 overs.
It was Furniss who stood defiant against the off-spin of former Newport and Lilleshall player Ian Pollard.
He was getting plenty of assistance from the wicket and he finished with a fine 5-29 as only four of the home side managed to reach double figures.
Carl Starling looked as if he wanted to win the game single-handedly and he had reached 42 in no time before he was stumped off Adu with the score on 62.
His departure opened the floodgates, and with Nick Watkins providing vital assistance to finish with 4-29, it was just a question of how long the inevitable would be postponed.
By Sean Wozencroft