ICC Europe/CricketEurope

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The Isle of Man came back from their opening-day defeat by Italy to record a convincing victory over France at the Ovale di Rastignano on Monday morning, making a solid 211 for eight and then bowling their opponents out for 145.

The key to the match was a fine all-round performance by Shaun Kelly, who top-scored with a run-a-ball innings of 66, and followed it up with a splendid spell of leg-spin bowling to take four for 28. And for good measure, his quick pick-up and direct hit were responsible for the run-out of French danger-man John Harding, arguably the turning-point of the game.

Kelly came to the wicket when the Manxmen, having won the toss and elected to bat, were teetering on 48 for three, Sam Evely having taken two wickets and Noman Tariq one. He joined opener Rowan Bird, and together they added 101 for the fourth wicket in a stand which laid the foundations for a solid Manx total.

Bird was eventually bowled by James Dawkins for a patient 44, but Kelly continued in partnership with Nick Moffitt, putting on another 32 before he too departed. The French used ten bowlers, but were unable to prevent the total reaching 211.

A series of moderate partnerships, all held together by John Harding, gave the French a good start to their reply, and at 105 for three they seemed to be well set for a second successive win.

Kelly, who picked up the wicket of Noman Tariq in his first over, was bowling well, but it was a brace of run-outs, the second of them by Kelly to remove Harding when he had made 51 (from 92 deliveries with seven fours) which started a collapse which saw France lose their last seven wickets for just 40 runs.

The later batsmen had serious difficulties with Kelly’s leg-spin, with two falling to stumpings by Andrew Killey and last man Pierre Kaveri being bowled not playing a shot to a googly.

The win keeps the Manxmen in with a good chance of a place in the semi-finals, provided they beat Gibraltar in their final group match. But with Gibraltar playing Italy on Monday afternoon, and France and Italy due to meet on Tuesday, a three-way tie in the group is not beyond the bounds of possibility.