One of the highlights of the cricket season takes place on Friday when the Isle of Man plays two T20 matches against the MCC. Last year the Manx won both games and the visitors will be out to reverse those results.

The Island squad is:

Phil Littlejohns (capt) (Peel and St John’s) : Adam Killey, Adam McAuley, Sam Kebbell, Nick Wilde, Sam Mills (Cronkbourne) : Danny Kniveton (Crosby) : Ollie Webster, Chris Hawke, Dan Hawke, Akkie van den Berg (Peel and St John’s) : Ryan Windell (Valkyres)

The games start at 11am and 2.45pm. The bar will be open from 4.30pm and there is a barbeque after the end of the second match. At 6pm an Under Nines Festival takes place on the ground. This should be an exciting day for Island cricket lovers and one not be missed.

On Saturday the next round of matches in the T20 Manx Premier League take place at Mullen-e-Cloie. Glashtyns begin the day at the top of the table with two wins from their two previous outings. It is going to be up to Manannans and Bugganes to halt their progress.

The final fixture of the day could be key when Bugganes play Glashtyns. Last month this match was won in the final over. Glashtyns had raced to 100 for 2 with Jaco Jansen (37) and Phil Littlejohns (26) in control. Then the side collapsed with the last eight wickets falling for just 39 runs.

In reply Bugganes were well placed at 74 for 1, but started to fall behind on the run rate. Pete Lewis made 37 and Bruce Wagstaff hit a punishing 31, but as the last over started the team were 10 runs behind.

A tight six balls from Jansen yielded only five runs and a narrow victory went to Glashtyns. Bugganes then lost their next match, but again the margin was narrow – only ten runs. So there is very little between the three teams and more excellent cricket is forecast.

The games go ahead at Mullen-e-Cloie, starting at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 4.30pm.