PUDSEY St Lawrence are hoping to write another chapter in their distinguished cricketing history by winning the inaugural Yorkshire Cricket Premier League final in Abu Dhabi today.

Their skipper James Smith spoke on the eve of the game about their desire to lift the White Rose Trophy just days before the club commemorates the 100th birthday of its most famous player Sir Leonard Hutton.

The clash is with the All Rounder Cricket Yorkshire League South ECB Premier League champions Wakefield Thornes

Smith said: “This is a unique situation. We are a club steeped in tradition and the history is massive. Never before have we had the chance to experience anything quite like this.

“Playing with pink ball under the floodlights at the Test ground in Abu Dhabi is a wonderful end to a great season.

“The semi-final at Headingley was really special too, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everything about Abu Dhabi has been amazing. The hotel, the practice facilities, it is absolutely first class.

“I have worked and played in Asia but never have a come across anything like Abu Dhabi.”

Smith will be seeking a response from his side after a below-par performance saw them lose their warm-up game to local side NMC by seven wickets.

The captain admitted: “If we play like that again we will get beat, so it is up to everybody to lift themselves and remember the reason why we came here – to win the final.”

Smith and cricket chairman Paul Hutchison have still to finalise their team. In the semi-final at Headingley they opted for Josh Wilson as the extra seam bowler and left out batsman Callam Goldthorp.

With conditions more conducive to spin bowling, it is likely they will play the additional batsman which would leave them having to choose between Charlie Parker and Wilson as the new-ball partner for Richie Lamb.

Rivals Wakefield Thornes have been the surprise package of the season and have been boosted by the arrival from Australia of their Sri Lankan all-rounder Akila Isanka.

They have been described by some as the 'Leicester City' of Yorkshire Premier League cricket.

Their captain Tom Froggett said: “This has been a brilliant season and now we want to top it off. Everything about this trip so far has been amazing and the final is going to be an incredible occasion for us all.”

Pudsey St Lawrence (From) James Smith (Captain), Mark Robertshaw, Adam Waite, Callam Goldthorp, Barrie Frankland, Matthew Duce (wkt), Chris Marsden, Richie Lamb, Steve Watts, Tom Hudson, Josh Wilson, Charlie Parker.

Wakefield Thornes: Tom Froggett (Captain), Tom Marsden, James Woldfenden, David Toft, Steve Morgan, Faisal Irfan, Akila Isanka. Matthew Varley, Greg Wadsworth, Mahmood Rasool, Matt Jordan.