Danny Kniveton and Dave Picken have put a brake on the title hopes of Valkyres in the Standard Bank Premiership. The two Crosby players had outstanding games on Saturday to send the Douglas side to only their second Karren defeat of the season.

Batting first Valkyres were indebted to opener Rob Weight for a solid 60 which held the side together. Shahzeb Raja hit a bright 29 and at 152 for 6 a good total seemed probable. Then Picken struck with a devastating over in which he took four wickets for no runs. This lethal spell included a hat-trick and left Crosby to chase a target of 153 for victory. 

Tom Reader and Abdul Khan struck early blows as the Marown batsmen struggled against a lively Valkyres attack. At 59 for 4 the match was in the balance when Kniveton was joined at the crease by Harry Rothwell. With a fine display of batting the pair took control. Their stroke play was superb and the running between the wickets excellent. Cheered on by a good crowd, they guided Crosby to a great win with a stand of 94. Kniveton impressed with a superb 57 not out and Rothwell cracked a stylish 36. However, all is not lost for Valkyres. They still lead the table, but are now level on points and games played with Cronkbourne. These two sides will meet later in the season in what should be an epic encounter.

Lurking just one point behind this pair and with a game in hand is the dangerous Ramsey side. On Saturday they went top of the Standard Bank T20 Cain League with a convincing win against Peel. The northern batsmen were in top form, scoring at nearly nine an over. Eddie Cleator smashed 39, Ollie Webster 24, Shaun Kelly 23 and Rob Webber 22 as the side reached a massive 179 for five. Akkie van der Berg was the pick of the bowlers with 2 -14 from his four overs. Webster then took two early wickets to stifle the Peel reply. Needing a high run rate from the start, the western batsmen were pinned back by some very accurate bowling. Skipper Daniel Dickinson tried hard before falling to spinner Kelly who then went on to claim two more victims. Van der Berg played sensibly for a good 26 and Mark Venables hit 17, but it was not enough. The side were dismissed for 96 to give Ramsey a resounding win. Kelly ended with 3 -13 from four overs, Webster had 2 -14 and there were also wickets for Jamie Moffatt and Cole McConnell.

It is early days yet in the Cain, but on this showing, Ramsey look favourites to retain their Cain title

Standard Bank Premiership

Valkyres 152 (Rob Weight 60, Shahzeb Raja 29 : Dave Picken 4 -41, Gareth Rowlands 2 -41); Crosby 153 for 4 (Danny Kniveton 57no, Harry Rothwell 36no : Tom Reader 2 -33, Abdul Khan 1 -18). Crosby won by six wickets.

Standard Bank Cain League

Ramsey 179 for 5 (Eddie Cleator 39, Ollie Webster 24 : Akkie van der Berg 2 -14, Daniel Dickinson 1 -33); Peel 96 (Akkie van der Berg 26, Mark Venables 17no : Shaun Kelly 3 -13, Ollie Webster 2 -14).. Ramsey won by 83 runs.

Standard Bank Forrester Division One

Castletown A 104 for 7 (Ben Melrose 25no, Richard Corke 24 : Ollie Webster 2 -20, Brian Arnold 1 -20, Greg Hawke 1 -20); Ramsey A 106 for 5 (Ollie Webster 53no, Eddie Cleator 19 : Seb Aycock 2 -23, Mark Williams 2 -26). Ramsey won by five wickets.

Standard Bank Forrester Division Three

Finch Hill A v Peel C & Castletown C v St John’s B : Games abandoned (rain) – one point to each side.