Saturday's Standard Bank Premiership game between Peel and St John's and Cronkbourne was building to an exciting climax when rain stopped play.

Batting first the western side were reeling after losing their first three wickets for only nine runs. Luke Lacey claimed two scalps and Sam Kebble was on target in a shock start to the match.
Then skipper Chris Hawke led an impressive fight-back. He cracked a splendid 77 as his team attacked the Douglas bowling.
Russell Miller made an excellent 44 and there was good support from Nick Hawke (23) and Akkie van den Berg (22). The team ended on 233 for 9 and took all five batting bonus points.
In difficult conditions, Kebble took 3 -34 and Lacey had 2 -31. He was soon in action again when Cronkbourne lost an early wicket.
Arriving at the crease with the score on16 for 1, Lacey took on the bowlers with a great innings. He had smashed 85 not out when rain stopped play with the Douglas team on 131 for 1.
Opener Nathan Knights batted well for 25 not out while Van den Berg returned 1 -6 from six overs. At the end Peel & St John's took most of the points as their run rate was the higher of the two sides.

Castletown got their season off to a flyer with a 75 run victory at home to Valkyres. Against tight bowling, the Town recovered from 47 for 5 to finish on 132 for 9.
Thirteen year-old Sam Riordan played a fine innings to top score with 33. Richard Jackson hit 28 while Hameed Sulthan struck with 3 -20.
Jackson then stunned Valkyres with a devastating spell of four wickets for just six runs. Paul Fleming scored 19, but his side were dismissed for 57.

The Crosby batsmen enjoyed themselves at Ramsey. They plundered a massive 279 for 6 as Danny Kniveton smashed 78 and Jack Rowlands made 72 not out.
In reply Ramsey put up a fight but were dismissed for 135. Dave Picken led the Marown charge by taking 3 -16 from eight overs.
For the northern club, Tom Howard hit 32 and Grant Atchison 23. At the close, in a dramatic bid to gain another batting bonus point, injured skipper Rob Webber returned to the crease.
However his valiant effort failed and Crosby shot to the top of the Premiership with all 20 points.

Standard Bank Premiership

Peel and St John's 233 for 9 (40 overs) (Chris Hawke 77, Russell Miller 44 : Sam Kebbell 3 -34, Luke Lacey 2 -31); Cronkbourne 131 for 1 (29 overs) (Luke Lacey 85no, Nathan Knights 25no : Akkie van den Berg 1 -6). Game abandoned (rain) - Peel and St John's win on higher run rate.

Crosby 279 for 6 (40 overs) (Danny Kniveton 78, Jack Rowlands 72no : Dom Howard 3 -34, Ollie Grice 2 -37); Ramsey 135 (32 overs) (Tom Howard 32, Grant Atchison 23 : Dave Picken 3 -16, Floris Ventor 2 -10). Crosby won by 144 runs.

Castletown 132 for 9 (40 overs) (Sam Riordan 33, Richard Jackson 28 : Hameed Sulthan 3 -20, Chris Langford 1 -20); Valkyres 57 (23 overs) (Paul Fleming 19 : Richard Jackson 4 -6, Scott Weaver 2 -3). Castletown won by 75 runs.