Cricket: WARRIORS skipper Paul Sawyer has called on opening batsman Matt Eyles to keep piling on the runs even if it means him losing 50 quid.

Sawyer has bet his opening batsman that he won't score 1,000 runs this season but the captain says he will be delighted to lose the bet if it helps the London Roaders capture their third Home Counties Premier League title in four years.

Sawyer said: "We've got a little bet going and it will hurt to lose £50 but I don't mind if it helps us win the league."

Eyles moved closer to pocketing the loot when he whacked an unbeaten 120 last week as Wycombe beat basingstoke by seven wickets to stay second in the league table, six points behind today's top-of-the-table opponents Banbury.

His innings included 21 fours and one six and Sawyer wants more of the same in today's top-two showdown even if it ends up hurting his pocket.

He said: "Matt can be a matchwinner. He was dropped early on last week but then he found his form and got the runs. It is a big ask for him to get 1,000 runs but if anyone can do it he can."

Former Wycombe player David Taylor managed the magic milestone last year but he was the only one to do the 1,000 run target and now Eyles is chasing the dream figure.

Eyles, who was on losing county duty with Bucks in Cumberland alongside Sawyer this week, reckons he needs 400 runs by the halfway stage of the season to stay on course and he is on the way to that with 220 runs under his belt already this season. But he won't be going gung-ho tomorrow as he puts team success ahead of winning wagers with his teammates.

The team will go out with a cautious approach with the his first priority being not to lose the match against their title rivals.

The London Roaders go into the big match without in-form bowler Paul Woodroffe.

He is unavailable because of his cricket coaching commitments at the school where he teaches so Simon Bird comes back into the side after dropping down to the second team.

Sawyer said: "Paul has done very well and we will miss him big time because he's our best bowler but Simon is a very good player to come back in.

"Hopefully he will come steaming back in wanting to make a point."

Meanwhile Jason Harrison will continue to play through the pain barrier after breaking his toe against North Mymms.