Delight as Delph bag Zimbabwe duo

CRICKET:

DELPH skipper Grant Jones hailed a ‘buy one, get one free’ deal following the arrival of Zimbabwean duo Kevin Hook and Matt Norvall.

Left-handed top order batsman Hook (21) is the club’s new professional, replacing Bilal Khiljee, who has switched to Shelley.

He came highly recommended by Norvall, who returns for a second stint at Delph following a spell in his homeland with Swinton Bridge — where he played alongside Hook.

Delph get their Drakes Huddersfield Premiership campaign under way at newly-promoted Hall Bower on Saturday, before a Heavy Woollen Cup first round trip to Wakefield Thornes 24 hours later.

Jones said: “We are delighted to have Kevin on board and it is like a BOGOF — a buy one, get one free — because Matt is back with us.

“It was no surprise to see Bilal join Shelley because he is a class player and we wish him all the best. We will come up against him later this season.

“Matt had no hesitation in recommending Kevin.”

Delph held top spot for the vast majority of the previous campaign. But bad weather hit their run-in and they ended up settling for second place behind Honley.

Now Jones — entering his 11th term as captain — wants another crack at the title.

He continued: “It was so frustrating. We had four fixtures rained off while Honley only lost one to the weather — it made a difference.

“We want to challenge for honours again and the hard work starts this weekend.

“Hall Bower will be keen to make a statement of intent as one of the new boys.

“Wakefield Thornes are a good outfit so it is going to be a tough test, but we are keen to go on a cup run.”