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Junior Cricket

Town edge Crosby in close encounter in IOMCA U15 league

After the rain claimed many of the recent fixtures in Manx cricket, it was good to see the Castletown Crosby U15s clash go ahead at KWC last Sunday. Castletown batted first and despite losing Daniel Hegginbotham to the first ball of the game, had a reasonable start with Jamie Dent and Bradley Marshall pushing the ball into the gaps nicely. Jamie accumulated 24 before he was dismissed, and immediately after that Crosby came back into the game with 2 more wickets as Ryan Tasker and Sam Peel were soon back in the pavilion. However with Marshall going well Castletown still harboured hopes of registering a competitive total. Town wicketkeeper Matthew Cregeen then came to the party with a towering 6 early in his innings, and hung around with Bradley allowing Marshall to retire on 31. The tables turned however when Matthew was dismissed for a well played 13, and wickets began to tumble. Crosby moped up the tail, and Marshall was dismissed quickly after coming back the wicket. Pick of the Crosby seam attack was Alex Wilson with 3-14. Castletown registered a total of 104, which was around par considering the pitch conditions and the nature of the game.

Jamie Johnston and Jack Rowlands opened up for Crosby, and it soon became apparent that the dismissal of these two junior Isle of Man players would be vital to Castletown’s chances. Jack was the first of the pair to be dismissed, as the Castletown seam attack of Marshall, Peel, Dent & Tasker settled in. The Crosby upper order continued to pick up quick singles as they moved towards Town’s total of 104. The wicket of Johnston looked increasingly important, and when he was out for 23 the tables began to turn in the favour of Town. Jacob Hicklin was Crosby’s main hope, but with Ryan Tasker steaming the flow of runs, Town skipper Sam Peel turned to Sam Walker in his leg spin mode at the business end of the innings. To the joy of the home support, Sam picked up two vital wickets to take Town to the brink of victory. As the game entered the last few overs, Hicklin had batted well but was left stranded not out on 21, as the last Crosby wicket fell to a direct hit run out for 95. This exciting game bodes well for future U15 fixtures, as Castletown registered a narrow, but important 9 run victory.

Match summary

Castletown 104 (Bradley Marshall 31, Jamie Dent 24, Alex Wilson 3-14)

Crosby 95 all out (Jamie Johnston 23, Jacob Hicklin 21no, Ryan Tasker 2-13, Sam Walker 2-21)

Castletown win by 9 runs

Other result:

IOMCA U13 League

Castletown A beat Castletown B by 6 wickets

Castletown B 35 all out {Tom Kelly 3-6, Connor Stephens 3-2)

Castletown A 36-4 (Sam Taylor 11 not out, James Lacey 3-15)