NALISHA Patel will become the first female cricketer to make the first team at Horwich RMI this weekend.

The all-rounder is the current second-team skipper and will make the step up when they entertain Eagley at the Recreation Ground tomorrow.

The 17-year-old has enjoyed a successful start to the season, taking 3-24 for Lancashire's women against Nottingham last month.

Patel was part of the Lancashire Thunder side that won the Division Two ECB Royal London One Day Cup in 2014 and was a key member of their Division One winning team last year.

She is also part of the England Women’s Development Programme at under-19 level and captained the LCB Girls Under-17s to the national final last year.

Horwich first-team captain David Morris said: "It will be a great moment for the club and Nalisha in making her first-team debut.

"She has played for us for a number of years and will get the chance to play with three players who have come through the ranks with her – Tom Billington, Matthew Morris and Lewis Haydock."