DEANE and Derby captain Imtiaz Hussain hopes his team can continue their good start to the season and go one better to earn promotion from Greater Manchester Cricket League Division Three this season.

The Chelsea Road club currently sit top of the table on run rate ahead of Whalley range seconds and Elton Vale after three successive victories – the most recent a 40-run triumph against a good Radcliffe outfit last weekend.

And it is form that is encouraging for Hussain, who has been with the club for more than 30 years.

He told The Bolton News: “We certainly can’t complain with the start we’ve had.

“Last season we missed out on promotion by just one point and could have been playing in Division Two but for that.

“Everyone here hopes we can go one better this season.”

Star performers in the win against Radcliffe were Anis Patel, who hit 60 against his former club, and Sarfaraz Patel, who took 4-34 in a fine spell.

But Hussain still believes the side could do with one more pace bowler to help the push for promotion.

He added: “Radcliffe were good with the ball so we did well to get a good total and, of course, it was nice for Anis against his old club.

“We have had some good individual displays so far but i still think we could do with one more pace bowler.

“We had a youngster last season, Jabil Javid, who was a really good prospect. He is just 20 and I would love him to be with us this season but work commitments mean he can’t.”

While the start to the GMCL season has been promising, Hussain admits the club would still prefer to be playing league cricket in their native Bolton.

However, he is a big fan of the GMCL and the level of competition.

Hussain said: “We would love to be playing in the Bolton League or Association but it hasn’t happened and that is disappointing.

“We are a Bolton team and want to be playing in this town’s league.

“But I think the GMCL has worked out for us in the meantime.

“Everything is very good and when you think we were going to play park cricket before we got in, it is far better for us as a club.”

Today, Deane and Derby travel to face Astley and Tyldesley seconds at the Gin Pit Oval and Hussain added: “It is another good test for us.”