The Manannans have reduced the gap with Glashtyns at the top of the Manx Premier League to just two points. The sides met in the first game of Saturday’s third round of matches.

Batting first, Manannans got off to a great start with Adam McAuley and Jack Newbery sharing an opening stand of 105. Then disaster struck as three wickets fell on that score. McAuley was bowled by Matt Ansell for 52 and Newbery became a run out victim for 41. Ansell claimed another scalp and the side struggled to 146 for 5.

Skipper Ollie Webster led the Glashtyns reply with a fine 55 from 33 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes. However, when he departed, the other batsmen could not keep up the momentum and the side were dismissed for 119. Ally Slack and Richard Jackson both took three wickets.

Glashtyns bounced back to beat Bugganes in the next match. The first wicket fell at 80 in the tenth over when Jamie Moffatt departed for 46 which featured 3 fours and 2 sixes. Webster clattered 24, but good bowling kept the final total down to 132 for 6.

Opener Pete Lewis cracked 43 for Bugganes but they were always behind the run rate, mainly thanks to an inspired spell of bowling by Dan Hawke. He conceded only seven runs in his four overs which contained a wicket maiden.

Chris Langford hammered 37 off 32 balls, but Bugganes finished just 11 runs short at 121 for 5. Ansell notched another two wickets and Webster returned 1 -17 from four tidy overs.

In the final fixture, Manannans made 159 for 9, the highest score of the day. They got away to an electric start with Adam McAuley lashing the first three deliveries to the boundary. He was then brilliantly caught by Sam Mills with an aerial one handed catch falling backwards.

Danny Kniveton took over with a dashing 67 from 53 balls before being dismissed by Garreth Roome. He then proceeded to tie up the lower order and ended with 4 -13.

Peter Lewis again spearheaded the Bugganes’ reply and carried his bat for an excellent 57 to go with his 43 not out in the previous game. Chris Langford made 13, but no other batsman reached double figures.

This was mainly due to tight bowling. Jackson returned 3-30 while Ansell and Sam Riordan conceded fewer than four runs an over. The innings folded on 121 to give Manannans their second win of the day.

The next round of games in the MPL is on Saturday 1st August at Ramsey.