Cronkbourne took a big step towards securing cricket’s Premiership title on Saturday when they defeated nearest rivals Peel and St John’s in a very tight game at Mullen-e-Cloie.

The home side batted first and suffered an early setback when the dangerous George Burrows was adjudged lbw first ball.

Captain Ollie Webster rallied with yet another 50, but apart from Keiran Cawte (21 not out) there was little support and the final total of 129 seemed way below par.

This looked to be confirmed when Max Stokoe (36) and Nick Wild (34) saw Cronkbourne to 112-3 and cruising to victory but there was then a dramatic collapse.

Six wickets fell for 12 runs, Webster taking four wickets (all bowled), and at 124-9 the Saints may well have thought that they were on course for a famous comeback.

It was not to be, however, as Adam Killey then hit his first two balls for four and six to end a tense finale and almost hand this year’s title to the Tromode side.

They need only 25 points from their remaining four matches to confirm this.

The other match of the day, at Marown, was not quite so close.

Crosby won the toss and elected to bat against a Development XI side that were missing a number of their regular players, including seniors Greig Wright and Mark Williams.

The hosts made a sizeable 295-7, but the young bowling attack never gave up.

Jacob Butler impressed, opening the bowling and taking 1-43, and the Clarke brothers bowled well in the middle of the innings, Spencer returning 2-43 and younger brother Fraser 1-38 in a really good spell of controlled leg spin.

For Crosby Martyn Oates scored 69 and Danny Kniveton 54, with contributions down the order from Richard Tarr (36), Jamie Brown (33) and a rapid 32 from Harry Rothwell (wielding surely the heaviest bat in Manx cricket history).

The Development reply got off to a terrible start when captain for the day Eddie Beard was caught down the leg side for only two and despite a brief 16 from Will Ward, a combination of poor shots and three run outs saw the rest of the wickets tumble in quick succession.

A final total of 52 was disappointing - for the home side Joe Rothwell took 2-11 and Gareth Rowlands rolled back the years with 3-6.