Peel are through to the semi-finals of the Standard Bank Blincoe Cup. They now meet Valkyres in a re-run of the 2011 final which the western club won by seven wickets.

However their path to this year’s semis was not an easy one. Thursday’s win against Ramsey B was a close affair and the margin at the end was only two wickets.

At first Ramsey were in control with opening batsmen Tom Howard and James Arneil taking control. It all went wrong though when Howard was bowled by Craig Williamson for 14. After his departure the bowlers got on top and wickets began to quickly fall.

Arneil dominated the innings with 42 (including five boundaries), but of the rest only Matt Grice reached double figures. The side were dismissed for 106. Paul Sime took 3 -9 and there were two wickets each for Daniel Dickinson and Mark Reynolds.

Grice struck two early blows for Ramsey, but Tom Gascoyne fought back with a lively 31. Greg Miller cracked 21, but the other batsmen struggled. All seemed well when 21 was needed from the last four overs, but two run outs put the pressure back on Peel.

It was with some relief when Brian Wozniak hit the winning run with just two wickets left. Andy Ball claimed 2 -15 and Grice had 2 -11.

The semis go ahead on Sunday 1 July. The games start at 11am and are two innings per side. Valkyres face Peel and Union Mills are at home to Crosby B.

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All the games in Saturday’s Standard Bank Cain League were washed out by the torrential rain. Each side gets one point.

This week sees the return of popular touring side Commonwealth. They play Finch Hill at Ballafletcher on Tuesday evening, followed by two matches against Island Select elevens at Tromode on Wednesday and Thursday. The club are renowned for entertaining cricket and the games should be well worth watching.

Standard Bank Blincoe Cup
Ramsey B 106 (James Arneil 42, Tom Howard 14 : Paul Sime 3 -9, Daniel Dickinson 2 -9); Peel B 107 for 8 (Tom Gascoyne 31, Greg Miller 21 : Matt Grice 2 -11, Andy Ball 2 -15). Peel won by two wickets.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two
Crosby B 114 for 7 (Harry Rothwell 33, Floris Venter 31 : Martyn Oates 3 -18, Tom Gascoigne 2 -9); Peel B 77 (Tom Gascoigne 29, Matt Wozniak 22 : Jamie Brown 4 -7, Dave Picken 2 -13). Crosby won by 37 runs.
Crosby B 105 for 9 (Martyn Oates 33, Jamie Brown 19 : Jeff Butler 3 -33, Richard Jackson 2 -12); Castletown B 104 for 7 (Dave Griffiths 34, I Blackhurst 34no : Stu Morris 3 -28, Joe Rothwell 1 -15). Crosby won by one run.
Union Mills 149 for 6 (Chris Nash 39no, Richard Taylor 25 : Dan Williams 3 -36, James Harrison 2 -29); Cronkbourne B 123 (Andy Vels 46, Mike Hebden 36 : P Thomas 2 -0, Steve Lyon 2 -11, Richard Taylor 2 -12). Union Mills won by 26 runs.

Standard Bank Twenty20 Division Three
Finch Hill A 127 for 8 (Ben Bennett 35no, Ewan Quayle 31 : Tom Kennaugh 3 -21, H McClarney 2 -8); Castletown C 68 (David Kenworthy 23no, Brendan Coleman 14 : Joe Burrows 4 -17, Euan Quayle 2 -13). Finch Hill won by 59 runs.