Austria shocked favourites Isle of Man to record a six wicket win in their play-off game at Royal Brussels.

Having won the toss and elected to field, Austria fully justified their decision with a quite amazing start to the game. Gareth Morris and Oliver Webster both perished in identical fashion during the opening over, caught by Andrew Simpson-Parker at first slip - Muhammad Akhtar the successful bowler.

Things got even worse for the Isle of Man, when Peter Lewis slipped and was brilliantly run out by Qamar Abbas. Jaco Jansen was brilliantly caught by Benjamin Loader on the boundary, as he sprinted and dived full length to take the ball inches from the ground. Ahktar claimed his fourth wicket, when he trapped Max Stokoe in front, to give him the quite amazing analysis of 4 for 5 in his spell.

Daniel Hawke fell first ball, Simpson-Parker claiming his third catch off Satish Kaul, and the scoreboard at that time read a scarcely believable 6 for 6. Indeed it got worse for the Manxmen when Daniel Kniveton was run out backing up, after the bowler deflected the ball onto the stumps.

That made the total 10 for 7, and it looked like it could a very early finish. Their innings was given respectability by an 8th wicket partnership of 75 in 65 balls between Christopher Hawke and skipper Richard Kniveton.

Hawke benefitted from a drop on the boundary by Benjamin Loader when he had scored 20, which was pushed over the ropes for six. He went on to score 58 from 47 balls (8 fours, 1 six), before being last man out with the score on 94. Satish Kaul (2-11) and Satyam Subhash (2-20) also bowled well in addition to Akhtar.

Sometimes a low total can be difficult to chase, but that didn't prove the case for Austria, thanks primarily to the efforts of opener Lakmal Kasthuriarachchige, who played some delightful shots in his 43 from 31 balls (6 fours, 1 six).

Andrew Simpson-Parker sealed the six wicket win in style, smashing a quite magnificent straight six, to spark off jubilant scenes amongst the Austrian camp.

The win means they are promoted to Division One, and will take part in that tournament next month in the Channel Islands. They now play Belgium in the final at Royal Brussels tomorrow , where once again the underdogs will be hoping to defeat the fancied hosts.