Peel /St John’s and close rivals Crosby prepared for a potentially decisive showdown with comfortable wins over Cronkbourne and Valkyres.

Crosby currently hold a 15-point lead over Peel and St John’s in the Premiership after Saturday’s round of 40-over matches, but have played one game more.

At Tromode, home side Cronkbourne won the toss and chose to bat.

Although Nathan Knights recorded a rapid 50 from only 31 balls, supported by Jack Gerrard who also recorded a half century, they were all out for 197.

Greg Miller was the pick of the away side’s bowlers with 4 for 47.

In reply, openers Eddie and Charlie Beard recorded a partnership of 133 for the first wicket, with Eddie top scoring with 85 from only 54 balls.

Despite the best efforts of Harry Deering who picked up three wickets, Peel/ St John’s reached the target with 10 overs and five wickets to spare.

In their match at Mullen-e-Cloie, Crosby chose to put Valkyres in to bat after winning the toss. Valkyres started positively with opener Hemanth Vyas hitting a half-century, with Shahid Rafique (62) and Muhammad Salman (42) eventually helping Valkyres to set Crosby a target of 229.

However, although Valkyres soon had Kevin Kniveton back in the pavilion, Carl Hartmann scored an unbeaten 145 from only 97 balls.

The Crosby opening batsman’s innings including 22 fours and three sixes and his side duly eclipsed the Valkyres total with 10 overs to spare to win by seven wickets.

Castletown won the bottom-of-the-table clash with Ramsey at the Grammar School. Ryan Hogan (62) and Grant Atchison (42), together with some strong late order batting from William Barnes and Jensen Eve, saw Ramsey set a target of 188.

But Dollin Jansen’s unbeaten 57, supported by father Jaco’s 30 and a rapid 29 from wicketkeeper Ben Leinwand, saw the southern side home.

In Division One, Finch Hill enjoyed a home win over Cronkbourne seconds, despite Ryder Spencer’s unbeaten 93, after a century partnership for the second wicket between Indrakumar Gandu and Adam Corlett.

Cronkbourne thirds and Ramsey seconds both won their away matches against Castletown seconds and Crosby seconds respectively.

l This week’s fixtures feature the top-of-the-table clash at Marown between Crosby and Peel and St John’s, while Castletown host Finch Hill and Valkyres will face Ramsey.