Glashtyns dominated the first round of matches in the Manx Premier League on Saturday. Three high class T20 games were played and the day was a great success.
The first clash saw Glashtyns dismissed for 139 by the Bugganes. They started well when Jaco Jansen (37) and Phil Littlejohns (26) took the side to a strong position at 100 for 2.
The game then turned with the last eight wickets falling for just 39 runs. Sam Mills did most of the damage with 4 -30 and there were two wickets each for Max Stokoe and skipper Ryan Windell.
In reply Bugganes began slowly, but were well placed at 74 for 1. However tight bowling was keeping down the run rate and wickets began to fall. Peter Lewis was run out for an excellent 37 and Bruce Wagstaff went after a lively 31.
The side were eleven runs behind at the start of the final over. Jansen trapped Floris Venter off the second ball and Bugganes ended on 134 for 7, missing their target by only five runs.
The next match was very similar. Manannans made 138 for 8 and once again Bugganes fell narrowly short – this time by ten runs. For the Manannans Danny Kniveton was in form with a fine 57 and Akkie van den Berg cracked 22.
Batting second, Bugganes lost a wicket off the first ball and struggled to 32 for 4. Chris Hawke then took control and made a splendid 65, which included 5 sixes. He was out with the total on 121, but the remaining batsmen were pinned down and the innings closed on 128 for 7.
The third game featured the two winners. Manannans went in first, but were swept away by the Glashtyns’ attack. Dan Hawke took two wickets in his first over while Alex Stokoe and Kieran Cawte both claimed two victims.
A defiant 20 from Carl Wagstaff was not enough to stop his side being dismissed for 80. Jaco Jansen then smashed 55 not out to lead Glashtyns to a good victory by nine wickets.
There will be four more MPL days spread across the season. Hopefully they will all be as good as this opening session.
On Sunday Crosby’s Ross Berry ripped through the Valkyres top order in the first round of the Tinker Cup. He took three quick wickets to leave the Douglas team three wickets down for only five runs.
The middle order staged a fight-back with Chris Langford making 29, Rob Weight 28 and Ryan Windell 26. Valkyres ended on 133 all out with Berry claiming 4 -29 and Dave Picken 4 -17.
The Crosby batsmen then batted well to beat the rain and their opponents by nine wickets. Danny Kniveton hit an unbeaten 44, Martyn Oates 40 not out and Kevin Kniveton 28.
Josh Mills put on a tremendous display for Cronkbourne B at Ramsey. As wickets fell around him, the young batsman defied the northern bowling to hit 72 from his team’s total of 136. The next highest scorer was “extras” with 35 and nobody else got into double figures.
Tom Moffatt was the northern danger man with 5 -28. Dan Kelly (62) and Andy Ball (40) then took Ramsey to victory by nine wickets.
In the other tie, Peel and St John’s dismissed the Schools Eleven for 72. George Harrison top scored with 17, but Nick Hawke returned figures of 5 -14 and Kieran Cawte had 4 -16.
The Saints knocked off the runs for the loss of four wickets. Tom Gascoyne scored 26, Phil Littlejohns 23 and Sam Mills took 2 -21. Many spectators were pleased to see former Island and Cronkbourne stalwart Steve Cope bowling again.
There have been plenty of high scores and some real shocks in the T20 evening leagues. Batsmen in form included Matthew Nicholson (82), John Short (57 and 45), Joe Rothwell (67), Will Bailey (72) Adrian Jackson (52) and Chris Nash (53)
In the Cain league Crosby B was cruising to victory against Valkyres B when Abdul Khan caused a sensation. The Marown side had made 110 for 5 from their 20 overs and in reply the Valkyres were soon in trouble. Opener Arun Mahalingham had kept their hopes alive by battling to 46 before being dismissed by Harry Rothwell.
With only two overs left, the Douglas eleven needed 26 to win and looked well beaten. Then Khan struck and in an amazing spell 28 runs came off the 19th over. He finished on 24 not out to lead his side to a great victory by four wickets.
There were more celebrations at Garey Mooar where Union Mills had to defend their score of 121 for 8 against Cronkbourne B. Nathan Knights (29) and George Harrison (17) helped the Tromode club to a good start, but then Bruce Wagstaff came on.
He transformed the game by taking three wickets for no runs in his first over. Wagstaff ended with a haul of 5 -14 to give the Millers a narrow victory by ten runs. This was the first time he had collected five wickets for Union Mills.
The evening was also notable for Jody James who had one of the Cronkbourne openers LBW and so took his 200th wicket for the club.
