A STRONG Ramsey B side are through to the second round of the Standard Bank Blincoe Cup.
They had a convincing seven-wicket win over their northern rivals Grasshoppers and have now been drawn away to current holders Peel.
Batting first the Hoppers were shattered by a fierce bowling attack. Chris McConnell turned in a storming display to finish with three wickets for only three runs, while Andy Ball and Tom Howard each collected two scalps.
David Sheene was the only batsman to reach double figures with a gritty innings of 19.
The Jurby team were dismissed for 50, but were soon fighting back. Opening bowler John Halliwell took two quick wickets, but James Arneil was in top form and struck an unbeaten 29 to win the match.
Peel B proved too strong for Cronkbourne B in the other first round tie. The Tromode side reached 91 for 9, thanks to 25 from Declan Horrox and Simon Beard’s 20.
The western club needed only 11 overs to reach their target. Opener Grant Elbourne hammered a fine 32 before being run out and, although four more wickets fell, Peel notched a comfortable win.
Bruce Wagstaff shone for Union Mills as they began their season in Forrester Division Two at Crosby. He started by hitting an aggressive 61 from the Millers’ total of 141 for 6 in their 20 overs.
A good opening stand by Jamie Brown and Martyn Oates put Crosby on course for victory, but Wagstaff had the final say.
He dismissed Oates for 31 and followed this by two more wickets with his four overs costing just 10 runs. Brown went for 25 and the Marown side finished on 114 for nine to give Union Mills victory by 27 runs.
St John’s B have made a splendid start in the Forrester Division Three. First they defeated Grasshoppers by six wickets and then beat Finch Hill B by 68 runs.
In that game the Saints’ younger players saved the team. Batting first, they were in trouble at 29 for 4, but Will Bayley came to the rescue with a mature performance. He hit 41 from 52 balls and was last out as St John’s ended on 121 for 8.
Bayley then shone as a bowler by taking three wickets for six runs. Skipper Dean Wales claimed two victims as Finch Hill ended on 53.
CRICKET RESULTS
Standard Bank Blincoe Cup
Grasshoppers 50 (David Sheene 19, Matt Kneale 8: Chris McConnell 3-3, Tom Howard 2-12); Ramsey B 55 for 3 (James Arneil 29no, Paul Margraves 10: John Halliwell 2-18, Gareth Roberts 1-7). Ramsey won by seven wickets.
Cronkbourne B 91 for 9 (Declan Horrox 26, Simon Beard 20: Alex Williamson 3-12, Grant Elbourne 2-90): Peel B 92 for 5 (Grant Elbourne 32, Alex Williamson 15 : Dan Williams 1 -12, Phil Richardson 1-19, S. Mills 1 -19). Peel won by five wickets.
Standard Bank Forrester Division One
Castletown A v Ramsey A : Game abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two
Valkyres B 108 for 3 (Aurangzeb Ghousi 40, Rob Weight 28: George Broad 2-10, Nigel Hinds 1-15); Ronaldsway 64 (George Broad 15, Brian Gartland 10: Hameed Sulthan 2-12, Iain Walker 2-12). Valkyres won by 44 runs.
Union Mills 141 for 6 (Bruce Wagstaff 61, Paul Thomas 21 : Harry Rothwell 4-33, Martyn Oates 1-14); Crosby B 114 for 9 (Martyn Oates 31, Jamie Brown 25 : Bruce Wagstaff 3-10, Eddie Clague 2-9). Union Mills won by 27 runs.
Cronkbourne B v Valkyres B : Game abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three
Grasshoppers 82 for 4 (Matt Greenbank 21, Chris Wade 19 : Will Bayley 2-8, Fred Atherton 1-11); St John’s B 83 for 4 (Dean Wales 28no, Will Bayley 12: Simon Gubby 1-10, John Halliwell 1-13). St John’s won by six wickets.
St John’s B 121 for 8 (Will Bayley 41, Tim Evans 11: Keith Gartland 2-18, Ian Drake 2-18); Finch Hill B 53 (Ian Drake 11: Will Bayley 3-6, Dean Wales 2-6, Fred Atherton 1-12). St John’s won by 68 runs.
CRICKET FIXTURES DIARY
Monday, May 21
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)
Celton Manx Castletown B v Ronaldsway
White House Peel B v Cronkbourne B
Habib Valkyres B v Ramsey B
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Fairbairn Crosby C v Colas Finch Hill A
--------------
Tuesday, May 22
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Grasshoppers v Celton Manx Castletown C
White House Peel C v
Black Grace Cowley St John’s B
--------------
Wednesday, May 23
Standard Bank Forrester Division Two (6.30pm)
Fairbairn Crosby B v Ronaldsway
Celton Manx Castletown B v Union Mills
--------------
Thursday, May 24
Standard Bank Forrester Division One (6.30pm)
Celton Manx Castletown A v Habib Bank Valkyres A
Cronkbourne A v Ramsey A
Standard Bank Forrester Division Three (6.30pm)
Grasshoppers v Colas Finch Hill B
White House Peel C v Celton Manx Castletown C
--------------
Friday, May 25
Isle of Man Bank Under-11 League (6.30pm)
Cronkbourne v South
East v North
--------------
Saturday, May 26
Standard Bank Premiership (1pm)
Fairbairn Crosby v Black Grace Cowley St John’s
Cronkbourne v Ramsey
--------------
Sunday, May 27
Standard Bank Tinker Cup (2pm)
White House Peel v Black Grace Cowley St John’s
Ramsey v Celton Manx Castletown
Habib Bank Valkyres v Fairbairn Crosby
Isle of Man Bank Under 13 League (10am)
South A v East
North v West
Cronkbourne A v Cronkbourne B