There is a good mixture of League and Cup cricket to be played over the next few days.

 

On Thursday evening there are four games in the Standard Bank Blincoe Cup. The key match is at Marown where holders Peel and St John's B face a difficult tie against Greeba rivals Crosby B. The sides met in the semi-final last year when the Saints came out on top and went on to beat Union Mills in the final.

 

The Millers are having a mixed season and could be in trouble when they face Finch Hill. They will be encouraged by the form of all-rounder Greg Wenn who hit 25 and took three wickets in their Forrester One match on Monday.

 

Castletown B should prove too strong for the Development Eleven and Valkyres B are favourites to defeat Ramsey B. The winners of this tie will be at home to Cronkbourne Bacchas in the next round.

 

On Saturday Peel and St John's have a great opportunity to increase their lead at the top of the Standard Bank Premiership. They have won all their matches in this league and are 28 points ahead of second-placed Cronkbourne.

 

Now they are at home against Valkyres whom they beat by four wickets earlier in the season. Then Greg Hawke hit 76 and bowled eight overs for only 18 runs. A repeat performance would spell big trouble for Tom Reader's side.

 

Cronkbourne should be confident of victory when Ramsey comes to Douglas, but they had better be careful! When the sides met last month Ramsey were skittled for 75 with Alex Stokoe taking 5 -27.

 

The Douglas boys then settled back for a cruise to victory but were rocked by a fierce fight back. At one stage they were 48 for 6, but finally got home by a narrow two wickets. They will need to be at their best to avoid a similar fright on Saturday.

 

Castletown are one point behind the Tromode club, but have a game in hand. Their last ball defeat against Peel and St John's was a devastating blow to their title dreams. To get back on track the Town must take all 20 points from their clash with Crosby.

 

That will not be easy as the Marown team are no pushover. Danny Kniveton is batting really well and the bowling is beginning to click. There could be a surprise in store here for the southerners.  

 

On Sunday there are the remaining two ties in the first round of the Standard Bank Tinker Cup. Crosby together with Peel and St John's have won through to the second round and the pundits are predicting they will be joined by Cronkbourne and Castletown.

 

The Douglas side should prove too strong for Union Mills, but the Town might have trouble when they meet Valkyres. The result could hinge on the make-up of the Valkyres side. Will their selectors pick their strongest eleven for the Premiership on Saturday or will they hold back key players for this cup tie?  They are not going to win the league, but cup glory is a possibility.

 

There is also plenty of junior action this week-end. On Friday evening there are three games in the Under 12 league and Sunday has another Under Nine tournament. The location is Crosby and previous events have been a great success. The start time is 1pm. 

 

 

RESULTS

 

Standard Bank Blincoe Cup – First Round

Ronaldsway 106 for 6 (Sean Crossley 22, J Bradley 16 : Tom Evans 1 -10, Chris Whiting 1 -11); Cronkbourne Bacchas 108 for 4 (Tom Evans 38no, Richard Lepage 37). Cronkbourne won by six wickets.

Standard Bank T20 Forrester One

Union Mills 96 (Greg Wenn 25, Eddie Clague 16, Tom Miller 16 : Kieran Cawte 3 -28, Gareth Rowlands 2 -9, Dave Picken 2 -16, Joe Rothwell 2 -22); Crosby B 97 for 7 (Harry Rothwell 22, Joe Rothwell 19, Drew Buxton 17 : Greg Wenn 3 -11, Eddie Clague 2 -9). Crosby won by three wickets.