The semi-finals of the Blincoe Cup take place on Saturday with all eyes on the tie at Marown where Crosby B meet Peel and St John’s B. The Marown club are renowned cup fighters and their first team has battled its way to the Tinker final against Cronkbourne next week. Now the B eleven will be confident, having home advantage against their Greeba rivals.

In previous rounds Crosby have beaten Finch Hill and Castletown Veterans. The Saints had a bye in the first round followed by victory against Ramsey, the 2015 holders. Before their merger, Peel had won the Blincoe twice and St John’s four times. Together they won the final in 2013. As Crosby have won the cup three times, a close match is expected. The game is at Marown with a 1pm start.

Last year’s losing finalists, the Schools Eleven, are at Mullen-e-Cloie to play Valkyres. This should be a classic battle between youth and experience. It could swing on how many of the scholars are away on school holidays. As the batting on both sides is stronger than the bowling, a feast of runs is expected.

Both semis are two innings per side, eight ball overs and no more than two overs per bowler allowed. That means that at least eight players must bowl. Usually there are no problems with the first five or six. It is when you get to numbers seven and eight that the fun starts!

Down at Tromode there is a key match in the Premiership. Cronkbourne are 31 points behind leaders Peel and St John’s, but have a game in hand. That takes place on Saturday when Castletown are the visitors. If the Douglas side win this, then the gap narrows to 11 points and both sides have just one game left. A victory for the Saints at Crosby would give them the honours, but any slip-up by them could let in Cronkbourne who will play bottom of the table Ramsey.However if Castletown win on Saturday, then the chase is over and Peel retain their title. A great deal is riding on this match.