Crosby and Peel & St John’s both enjoyed comfortable away wins in Isle of Man Cricket Association’s Premiership on Saturday.

As such, Crosby maintained their 27-point lead over their nearest challengers.

Crosby travelled to Cronkbourne for the 40-over clash and, after winning the toss and putting the home side in to bat, they soon had them in trouble at 22 for 3, with Josh Langford picking up three early wickets including Cronkbourne skipper Nathan Knights.

Carl Wagstaffe and Jared Shepherd repaired some of the damage with a fourth-wicket stand of 58 before Wagstaffe and Adam Johnson were out in quick succession.

Some positive late-order batting from Nathan Williams (23) and Matthew Ansell (21) eventually saw Cronkbourne setting the league leaders a target of 183.

Crosby started well with openers Carl Hartmann and Martyn Oates adding 84 for the first wicket before Ryder Spencer trapped Hartmann for 34

But Oates went on to record an unbeaten 73 to give Crosby a seven-wicket win with four overs to spare.

Ramey hosted Peel & St John’s and, after winning the toss, were restricted to a total of 139 from their 40 overs. Ollie Webster was the pick of the away side’s bowlers with a miserly 3 for 13 from his eight overs, while Jamie Moffatt also picked up three wickets from only four overs.

Peel & St John’s knocked off the total in the 17th over after Charlie and Eddie Beard gave them an excellent start with a 70-run partnership for the first wicket before Charlie was first man out for 34, the first of Ryan Hogan’s two wickets.

Although Hogan also trapped Eddie with the score at 115, his 69 from only 39 balls proved decisive in an eight-wicket win to keep up the pressure on Crosby at the top of the table.

In the Premiership’s final match, Valkyres secured a comfortable nine-wicket win over Finch Hill.

Muhammad Salman and Zawar Hussain both picked up three wickets before Valkyres’ opening batsmen Hemanth Vyas and Shahid Rafique’s opening stand of 115 secured a comfortable win for the home side.

Although Rafique was out for 70, Vyas carried his bat for 54 runs with victory coming in the 12th over.

DIVISION ONE

It was a busy weekend for Castletown thirds in Division One with victory by 88 runs over their second team on Saturday but then a four-wicket loss to Peel on Sunday.

It was also a mixed weekend for Cronkbourne.

Their second team enjoyed an eight-wicket win over Crosby with Nick Morrel and Jacob Harding both taking three wickets, but their third team lost by three wickets to Ramsey.

With Crosby resting next weekend, Peel & St John’s have a chance to close the gap in the Premiership when they travel to Finch Hill, while Castletown will host Valkyres at King William’s College and Ramsey v Cronkbourne meeting at Ramsey Grammar School.