The first set of fixtures since the Premiership split into two sections takes place this weekend.

The top four teams will play each other twice for the honour of picking up the Karran Cup. The remaining four will vie for the Division One title.

Ramsey Crookall Finch Hill welcome Valkyres to their Ballafletcher ground on Saturday in the former competition.

George Burrows will no doubt aim to batter the Valkyres bowlers as he did in their previous meeting this season, likely with some admirable support from Sam Barnett.

Burrows’s brothers Tom and Joe will also hope to outsmart the Valkyres batsmen when the Finches take to the field.

There is due to be some rain this week, so this may slow the Ballafletcher outfield which has been lightning fast. Once a shot pierces the inner ring of fielders, it often runs for four.

Valkyres will be confident in their batting. They scored more than 250 runs in 30 overs on Saturday.

There is, however, very little possibility that spinner Andy Coulson will get five wickets this year after Finch Hill changed their pitch - how rude!

The Callin Wild Development XI travel to play Shimmin Wilson Peel and St John’s on Sunday in the weekend’s other match in the Karran competition.

The youngsters deserve their place at the ’top table’, but they may need to depend on some of their older players to tackle Ollie Webster who remains in top batting form.

The game could be a bit like two boxers slugging it out in the ring. Webster versus Burrows to see who comes out on top.

Newfield Castletown are at home on Saturday to Hannan Law Crosby in Division One.

Town’s Jaco Jansen scored an excellent 107 when the two sides met a few weeks ago.

However, Jansen’s achievement was overshadowed by larger scores on the day.

He will be looking forward to facing Crosby once again.

The Marown side have some excellent batsmen, but they have not always fired this season in the weekend competitions.

CTH Insurance Ramsey welcome Baker Tilly Isle of Man Cronkbourne to their Grammar School pitch on Saturday.

The northerners have had a tough time this season, and I am afraid that this may be another hard day at the office.

Cronkbourne won the Blincoe Cup last weekend and they seem to be getting into their stride.

They will possess too much firepower for Ramsey with players like Nathan Knights, Corbin Liebenberg and Harry McAleer in their line- up.

get into cricket

l What is happening to capitalise on England’s dramatic World Cup victory here in the Isle of Man?

There is a good structure in place in the island. A lot of people have been working hard over several years to encourage youngsters to play cricket and the sport is available to play on most days of the week for all ages.

The Isle of Man Cricket Association works hard to ensure that every child in school has been able to play or will be able to play cricket.

Women’s and girls’ cricket festivals have been taking place on Saturdays and there are more to come this summer.

If you are interested, please contact your local club, email [email protected] or go to www.iomcricket.co.uk

There is more work to be done and the Association is open to any ideas, which will help the greatest game grow.

bond dies aged 87

l The funeral of former island player Jack Bond will take place on Tuesday in Manchester.

The ex-Lancashire captain moved to the island in 1974 to take up a role at King William’s College before playing cricket, hockey and table tennis for the Isle of Man.

Fuller tribute to Bond in next Tuesday’s Isle of Man Examiner.