JIM McDonald, the wife beater ofZCoronation StreetZis now threatening to hit Lancashire cricket captain Mike Watkinson for six! But at least it's all in the name of sport as Jim, alias actor Charles Lawson, leads the Street stars in a fun cricket match against Lancashire at Egerton's Longworth Road ground tomorrow.

The match is part of Watkinson's testimonial year and as he says, theZCoronation StreetZresidents take the game very seriously.

"Apparently they fancy themselves a bit as cricketers and I think they actually won a game last year. Word has it that a certain Des Barnes can be a bit of a slippery bowler and that a certain Steve McDonald might have a few tricks up his sleeve.

"But we'll be on our guard," said Watkinson, who is on top form after plundering a century against Nottingham in the Sunday league this week.

Des and Steve, also known as Philip Middlemiss and Simon Gregson, are due to line up alongside neighbours Martin Platt (Sean Wilson), Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell), Andy McDonald (Nick Cochrane) and among others, the side's veteran left arm spin ace Ken Barlow (William Roache).

But Curly Watts (Kevin Kennedy) could be the secret weapon as he unleashes his niggling medium paced seamers.

Against that, Watkinson is hoping to bring most of the Lancashire side including England skipper Mike Atherton and current Test players John Crawley, Jason Gallian and Peter Martin

The action is due to get under way at 5pm.

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