Ramsey B will play the Schools Eleven in the Blincoe Cup Final. In the semis played on Sunday, Ramsey beat Peel and St John’s B by nine wickets and the Schools knocked out holders Crosby by 18 runs.

At Mullen-e-Cloie the Northerners made 120 for 7 in their first innings. Rob Webber hit 21 and Tom Howard 20. The Saints replied with 114 for 9 led by skipper Alex Williamson who struck 61 not out.

Trailing by just six runs, Peel and St Johns batted again but were skittled for 78. Dean Wales (25) and Colin Gilbert (22) played well, while Tom Moffatt (2 -11) and Grant Atchison (2 -11) were the key bowlers.

Needing 72 for victory, Ramsey cruised home for the loss of only one wicket. Andy Ball made 26 and Tom Howard carried his bat for 31.

In the other semi, openers Drew Buxton and Joe Rothwell got Crosby away to a flier. They put on 92 before Buxton fell for 39 while Rothwell carried on to the end with 40 not out.

The Marown side totalled 138 for 6, but the Schools replied with 136 for 9, leaving them narrowly behind by two runs. Sam Callister got 36 and George Burrows 22 while there were two wickets each for Ross Berry and Martyn Oates.

Burrows was soon in action again with 33 as the Schools made a second innings total of 146 for 7. That left Crosby needing 145 to win, but they fell short on 127 for 7.

Joe Rothwell once more starred with 28, but Tom Burrows took 3 for 10 and Spencer Cope 2 for 16.

The Blincoe Final will be played at Marown on Sunday 2nd August.

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Action in the Premiership returns on Saturday with the top game set for Mullen-e-Cloie.

Champions Peel and St John’s, currently second in the table, face Crosby who are one point behind. There are just four games left, so neither side can afford a slip-up as defeat could spell the end of their title hopes.

The Saints will remember only too well what happened when the sides met earlier in the season. Then the Marown club rattled up 191 for 4 with Danny Kniveton hitting 75 not out. Crosby then dismissed their opponents for 120 to take all 20 points.

This must show how dangerous this side can be. However that defeat will probably stir the Saints to serve up something really special for this encounter.

Top of the table Cronkbourne cannot afford to relax. Their lead is a mere three points and a visit to Castletown could be testing. The home team are in fourth place, but well adrift of the top trio. The hard grass track at King William’s College has in the past suited the batsmen.

However the pitch is now offering more assistance to bowlers and the top Premiership total on the ground this year is only 174.

In a very close match at Tromode earlier in the season, Castletown made 104 and Cronkbourne replied with 105 for 8. Nick Kieswetter took five wickets for the Douglas side. They will be hoping for a repeat performance from him on Saturday.

Valkyres and Ramsey meet in a bottom of the table clash. Valkyres have yet to win this season and Ramsey’s one victory so far was against the Douglas team. Ramsey ran up 155 and then bowled out Ryan Windell’s team for 107. Andy Ball starred with 54 and Will Moffatt took 5 -34.

Difficult to predict a winner in this match, but Ramsey’s all round strength should swing the outcome in their favour.