There were victories for Ramsey, Castletown and Peel as the Standard Bank T20 Cain League got under way on Saturday. Valkyres batted first against Ramsey and at 47 for 2 all seemed well. Then Brian Arnold struck with three wickets in one over, including the prize scalps of Aurangzeb Ghausi for 18 and Tom Reader for 12 – both caught at long on by Ollie Webster. The middle order struggled against tight bowling and the Douglas team were dismissed for 78. Brian Arnold took 3 -14 and there were two wickets each for Shaun Kelly and Jamie Moffatt. Moffatt then opened the Ramsey reply and cracked an excellent 28. When he was dismissed by Abdul Khan, Webster took over and smashed 33 not out, including three sizes to give his side a good win by eight wickets.

Castletown were in great form when they dismissed Crosby for 54. Jack Rowlands top scored with 14, but nobody could stop Seb Aycock, John Short and Richard Jackson who each took two wickets. Wicus Wessels then cracked 30 not out to take the Town to a nine wicket win.

It was closer at Mullen-e-Cloie where Peel were shot out for 106 by Cronkbourne. Tom Gascoyne made a fine 44 while Matty Ansell shone with 3 for 16. Cronkbourne were in good shape at 29 for 1, but then fell apart. Despite a splendid 42 from Ryan Burns, they ended on 77. There were two wickets each for Greg Miller, Russell Miller and Jaco Jansen. Next Saturday Peel are at Ramsey – it should be quite a game!

Despite the bad weather, there has been plenty of action in the evening leagues. Forrester Division Two has a three way battle at the top of the table between Union Mills, Ronaldsway and Crosby B. After a poor start, the Marown side have won their last four games. An eight wicket victory over Cronkbourne B was down to a good all-round team effort. They are now in third place, three points behind the Millers who had a big win against Peel B. Richard Taylor hit 73 not out as his club ran up 156 for 5. A brave 58 from Tom Gascoyne helped Peel to 113 for 7 with Jodie James taking 3 -14. The western side also suffered defeat against second placed Ronaldsway – but by only one run. The southerners were dismissed for 78, but were then undone by impressive bowling from Robbie Prescott. He claimed 5 -11 as, in a tense climax, Peel were dismissed for 77.

In Forrester Division Three, the team to beat is St Johns B who have won all four of their matches. Against Crosby C they scored 119 for 6 with skipper Dean Wales hitting a classic 65. The Crosby batsmen made a cautious start, but then struggled against Will Bayley. In a devastating spell he took 5 for 15, including a hat-trick in which all three victims were bowled. The Marown team were rocking on 46 for 8, but Dave Picken and Stu Morris put on a good stand to take them on to 87 for 9. Morris ended on 24, but St Johns won by a comfortable 32 runs.

Standard Bank Cain League

Valkyres 78 (Aurangzeb Ghausi 18, Shahzeb Raja 13 : Brian Arnold 3 -14, Jamie Moffatt 2 -10); Ramsey 79 for 2 (Ollie Webster 3no, Jamie Moffatt 28 : Abdul Khan 2 -10). Ramsey won by eight wickets.

Crosby 54 (Jack Rowlands 14, David Quayle 13 : Seb Aycock 2 -3, John Short 2 -3); Castletown 5 5for 1 (Wicus Wessels 30no, Gareth Morris 12 : Dave Picken 1 -18). Castletown won by nine wickets.

Peel 106 (Tom Gascoyne 44 : Matty Ansell 3 -16, Ally Slack 2 -16); Cronkbourne 77 (Ryan Burns 42, Max Stokoe 11 : Russell Miller 2 -9, Greg Miller 2 -13). Peel won by 29 runs.

Standard Bank Forrester Division One

Ramsey A 139 for 7 (Rob Webber 32, Ollie Webster 31 : James Harrison 2 -31, Ryan Burns 2 -29); Cronkbourne A 121 for 6 (Carl Wagstaffe 36no, Ryan Burns 32 : Nick White 3 -22, Akkie van der Berg 1 -20). Ramsey won by 18 runs.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Two

Valkyres B 91 for 7 (Aurangzeb Ghausi 31, Rob Weight 17 : Craig Williamson 2 -7, Grant Elbourne 2 -16); Peel B 93 for 2 (Daniel Dickinson 45, M Venables 34no : Abdul Khan 1 -15, Hameed Sulthan 1 -28), Peel won by eight wickets.

Union Mills 156 for 5 (Richard Taylor 73no, Bruce Wagstaff 28 : J McDonald 2 -27, Tom Gascoyne 1 -19); Peel B 113 for 7 (Tom Gascoyne 58, James Seed 22 : Jodie James 3 -14). Union Mills won by 43 runs.

Ronaldsway 78 (Peter Langridge 23, Brian Gartland 12 : Daniel Dickinson 3 -10, Grant Elbourne 3 -19). Peel B 77 (Grant Elbourne 19, Daniel Dickinson 18 : Rob Prescott 5 -11, Brian Gartland 2 -6). Ronaldsway won by one run.

Valkyres B 74 (Abdul Khan 20, Rob Weight 12 : Mike Walker 4 -24, Jamie Brown 2 -1); Crosby B 78 for 3 (Richard Foden 32, Harry Rothwell 10 : Hameed Sulthan 2 -11, Abdul Khan 1 -7). Crosby won by eight wickets.

Cronkbourne B 72 for 9 (Sam Mills 30, Mike Hebden 7 : Richard Foden 2 -5, Mike Walker 2 -10); Crosby B 73 for 2 (Richard Foden 29no, Craig Hartmann 13no : Sam Black 2 -10). Crosby won by eight wickets.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three

St John’s B 119 for 6 (Dean Wales 65, Will Bayley 20 : Dave Picken 2 -14, R Kelly 1 -11); Crosby C 87 for 9 (Stu Morris 24, Craig Hartmann 9 : Will Bayley 5 -15, Tim Wood 2 -18). St John’s won by 32 runs.

Grasshoppers 30 (Mark Curphey 8no : Dave Picken 2 -0, J Morris 2 -1); Crosby C 31 for 1 (Tudor Baker 12, D Burton 10no : David Sheen 1 -2). Crosby won by nine wickets.

Finch Hill B 139 for 2 (Ben Bennett 59no, Joe Burrows 50no : J McDonald 1 -8, Paul Sime 1 -29); Peel C 133 for 5 (Sam Brand 38, Colin Gilbert 22 : Harry Wilson 2 -18). Finch Hill won by six runs.

Finch Hill A 90 (Ben Bennett 28, Andrew Ward 16 : Rowland 2 -8, J Karren 2 -9); Castletown 90 for 1. Castletown won by nine wickets.

Tour Games

Commonwealth 130 for 7 (Anthony Molloy 52no, Nathan Cook 26 : Jamie Brown 2-20, Scott McVey 2-6); Finch Hill 88 for 8 (Joe Burrows 26, Ben Bennett 9 : James Banks 2 -14). Commonwealth won by 42 runs.

Island Select A 171 for 7 (Phil Littlejohns 83, Max Stokoe 22 : Mark Sinclair 3 -26, Anthony Molloy 3 -34); Commonwealth 172 for 0 (Michael Currey 92no, David Savey 70no). Commonwealth won by ten wickets.

Island Select B v Commonwealth : Match abandoned (rain).