Email This Article To Someone!

A highly creditable 3rd place in the ECC European Division 3 Championships could have been so much more for the Isle of Man team but for the dramatic finale to their semi-final against Spain in Gent.The game ended in a tie when Garreth Roome was run out with still 12 balls to go after a magnificent effort from skipper Rob Webber and Scott Pearce had seen a recovery from 121-8 to 179-9 with just one more run required.

The week had started with a great close win over hosts and one of the pre-tournament favourites Belgium at Rumst in Antwerp. Put in to bat the Isle of Man started disastrously with Jon Norrington somewhat unfortunate to be given out caught behind. Ollie Webster played on off his pads before Peter Richards and Rob Webber also departed. Nic Hawke was tragically run out without facing and at 42-5 it looked bleak. However, a magnificent stand of 78 between Gareth Morris and Graeme Garrett changed things and when Garrett was last out for a superb 60 the Isle of Man had reached 162, a fair score on a difficult ground.

In reply Belgium were soon in trouble against Scott Pearce (4-17) and good bowling from Garreth Roome and Nick Hawke (2-27) kept Belgium in check. Sheryar Butt then attacked the bowling and hit an amazing 7 sixes in his 58 before being brilliantly caught on the long off boundary by Ollie Webster off Gareth Morris who then struck twice more to leave the hosts on 130-9. Belgium's last pair batted aggressively and added 21 before a stunning catch by Scott Pearce at extra cover gave Morris (4-36) his 4th wicket and victory to the Isle of Man by 11 runs.

The following day saw the Isle of Man take on Malta at Royal Brussels, but heavy rain delayed the start until 4.15 with the game reduced to 25 overs each. Skipper Rob Webber's decision to open with Gareth Morris and Pete Richards proved inspirational as Morris blasted 62 off 53 balls in a stand of 84 and Richards went on to make 79, being dismissed in the last over as the score reached 170-6.

This total proved too much for the Maltese as Roome (2-16) fired out their openers. Nic Hawke picked up 2 wickets and Pearce and Danny Kniveton one each before Malta decided to protect their "Wicket/Run rate" finally ending on 78-6 and victory to the Isle of Man by 92 runs.

The two wins had left the Isle of Man assured of a semi-final spot and they were to finish top of Group B when Wednesday's game with Cyprus was washed out at Brussels.

This now meant a semi-final with friends and close rivals Spain in Gent. It was felt by most that the teams were evenly matched and this was to prove so true on the day.

Choosing to bat first Spain raced away to 43-0 off just 7 overs thanks to the hard-hitting Shafique Ali, well known to the Manx players after scoring a hundred in La Manga last year. He made 41 off 31 balls before Scott Pearce had him caught and this signalled a period of dominance for the Island bowlers. Garreth Roome produced the bowling performance of the week sending down 10 overs including 7 maidens and taking 3-13. With Nic Hawke keeping it tight at the other end Spain struggled and had to rely on a good late innings of 36 not out from David Climent and contributions from Faran Afzal and Manny Fernandez to get them to 179-8 at the end.

This total seemed a reasonable target but the Isle of Man innings started with a disastrous mix-up which saw Jon Norrington run out for 1. Ollie Webster, Pete Richards and Gareth Morris all departed cheaply  and it was left to Nic Hawke (34) and Graeme Garrett to put together a fifty partnership to raise hopes but as wickets fell at 121-8 it looked bleak. Spain were on top but were soon aware of the length of the Island batting line-up as Rob Webber and Scott Pearce proceed to add 40 and with plenty of balls left the Isle of Man were in control until Spain skipper Graham Howe brought David Climent into the attack. Climent bowled Webber off his pads with the score on 161 and still 19 runs needed. Last man Roome can bat and he proceeded to help Scott Pearce keep the score moving. On 172-9 Pearce hit a superb straight six and then a wide brought the scores level. Just as it looked that a win was inevitable Roome attempted an impossible single and was sent back only to be run out by a great direct hit from bowler Climent which tied the game but gave Spain a place in the final by virtue of having lost fewer wickets.

The wild celebrations from the Spanish players and looks of dejection on the faces of the IOM squad said it all but it was good luck to Spain for the final and pick yourself up for the IOM players with 3rd place to play for on Saturday.

Saturday's 3rd place play-off proved a low key affair with the Isle of Man fieldind well below par in a lacklustre performance. At ne stage Malta were 148-3 but when Neil Holmes recovered quickly from a spilled  catch to run out top Maltese batsman Frankie Spiteri for 62 the Malta innings subsided to scott Pearce's bowling as he finished with 4-35 and Graeme Garrett picked up 2-28, figures which could have been much better but for dropped catches. The final score for Malta being 165 all out.

Isle of Man openers Jon Norrington and Peter Richards looked determined  from the start and put together a stand of 79 brfore Richards holed out. Thee was a minor wobble when Norrington (27) went shortly afterwards and the dependable Gareth Morris failed for once, but Christian Steriopulos was joined by Ollie Webster and while Christian played steadily Ollie took the attack to the Maltese bowlers with some big sixes in his 48. The pair almost took the Island home but when Ollie was caught it left "Big G" Graeme Garrett to take to the wicket for the last time and see the Isle of Man home by 4 wickets.

Graeme has been a permanent fixture in the Isle of Man side for more than a decade and in that number six spot has seen the Island to many victories in that time. There have been many great innings in that time and the 60 he made at Rumst against Belgium which gave the Isle of Man it's most significant victory yet will be remembered by those lucky enough to be there. So it's a big final thank you to Graeme from all in IOM cricket and we all wish him well for the future as he takes over as Headmaster at St. Joseph's School in Launceston, Cornwall.

Best wishes too go to Scott Pearce who contributed so much to the cause in Belgium in his final appearances before returning to Oz. Scott took 4 wickets against Belgium and Malta and batted magnificently against Spain only to be denied at the death. Thanks "Chop" for the memories.