Europe was once again treated to a host of action, with seasons in full swing
Jersey
A last-minute rescue effort by St Ouen Springfield in the Jersey 40-over Premier League saw them snatch three wickets in four deliveries to beat Farmers Caesareans by a single run at Les Quennevais on Saturday.
Farmers seemed set for victory at 125 for seven chasing St Ouen’s 126 all out, but then David Bourne removed Charlie Perchard and Toby Clark claimed the final two wickets with successive deliveries to give his side the narrowest of victories.
Toby Thirkettle had earlier been instrumental in reducing Farmers to 25 for four, but they were rescued by Asa Tribe (33) and Patrick Gouge (34), who added 74 for the fifth wicket before Thirkettle returned to remove both of them and finish with four for 34.
Italy
Even so, St Ouen’s total, in which Ollie Nightingale top-scored with 38, seemed inadequate, with Josh Lawrenson taking four for 27 and Rhys Palmer three for 17.
Then came the dramatic denouement, and St Ouen’s extraordinary escape.
The final of Italy‘s T20 competition will be between Jinnah Brescia, who beat Fresh Tropical by eight wickets after dismissing their opponents for 117, Sukhwinder Singh claiming four for 12, and Asian Latina, whose 191 for two was too much for Padova, who could only manage 159 for eight in reply.
In the 50-over championship, there were wins for Milan United over Cantù in Group B, Kings XI over Janjua Brescia in Group C, Royal Parma – by just one wicket – over Bologna in Group D, and Barraca Prato over Pianoro in Group F.
This last game was a remarkably high-scoring affair, Pianoro making 378 in reply to Barraca’s 418 all out.
Spain
In Spain, Malaga had two wins over Granada in their Southern T20 League double-header at the Cártama Oval.
In the first match Malaga posted 190 for eight, largely thanks to a stand of 81 in 5.5 overs between Nadim Hussain Malik, who made 57 from 34 deliveries, and Afzal Shah (34 from 17), and despite a solid opening stand of 109 between Brett Ross (57) and Laftur Rehman (33) Granada could only manage 156 for eight in reply.
Malaga were even more rampant in the second game, running up 270 for seven, with Afzal (57 from 29) again featuring in a crucial partnership, this time adding 76 for the sixth wicket in 4.4 overs with Waqas Ahmed, who made 51 from just 19 deliveries.
José Antonio Quitian Verdes made 49 from 30 balls when Granada replied and Todd Davey smacked 30 not out from 11, but again their side fell short, closing on 191 for six.
Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic Vinohrady had an easy win over Bohemians, Yashkumar Patel and Ritik Tomař taking three for 14 and three for 18 respectively to dismiss their opponents for 62 after Vojtech Haša’s 56-ball 72 and Shaun Dalton’s 45 had taken Vinohrady to 165 for three.
Brno also won, beating Prague Spartans by 22 runs, while Prague had a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Prague Barbarians, Sharan Ramakrishnan (70 not out) and Arun Ashokan (39 not out) seeing them safely home.
Norway
Norway’s Oslo T20 League was badly disrupted by the weather over the weekend, but nevertheless produced some notable performances.
The most remarkable came in the match between City A and Bjørvika, where City’s Norway international Ehtesham ul Haq belted 114 from 58 deliveries, with seven fours and eleven sixes, out of a total of 188 for five, only to see his side lose by seven wickets as Bjørvika’s Ali Sufyan Saleem hit an unbeaten 70 from just 23 balls to see his side home with two overs to spare.
In other results, Vestli A beat Fjord A by seven wickets in a match reduced to 11 overs, United beat Star by 17 runs in a 10-over game, Nittedal beat Sentrum by six wickets, Vestli B had a big win over Vestli C, making 214 for four and bowling their club-mates out for 49, Falken A were too strong for Fjord B, and Alna beat City B by six wickets.
Austria
The Ballpark in Graz hosted two thrilling matches in the Austrian T20 League over the weekend, with Sub-Continental Graz just holding on to beat Indian CC Vienna by 3 runs on Saturday, and Afghan Steiermark beating Vienna CC by the same margin the following day.
The Steiermark side then beat Indian Vienna by 15 runs in their second match of the day to crown a fine weekend, Aman Habibullah taking three wickets in each game.
Vienna’s opening pair Daniel Eckstein and Mark Simpson-Parker had a prolific weekend, putting on 158 together in their side’s nine-wicket victory over Sub-Continental Graz on Saturday, Eckstein making a 51-ball 91 not out; they shared a stand of 108 on Sunday, but then watched as Afghan Steiermark held on for their narrow win.
Highest individual score of the weekend was Razmal Shigiwais’s unbeaten 101 for Vienna Afghan, which formed the basis of his side’s 68-run victory over Salzburg.
Isle of Man
In the Isle of Man Cronkbourne openers Adam McAuley and Nathan Knights shared a stand of 205 against Vlkayres at Tromode before Knights was trapped in front for 133, made from 58 deliveries with nine fours and 11 sixes.
McAuley went on to finish with 202, from 129 balls with 24 fours and two sixes, as Cronkbourne closed on 431 for four from their 40 overs.
Valkyres could only muster 99 in reply, Matthew Ansell and Jordan Chatt claiming four wickets apiece at a cost of 18 and 25 respectively.
Finch Hill beat Ramsey by six wickets at Ballafletcher Sports Ground, Robert Webber making 70 in Ramsey’s total of 235 for nine and a not-out 116 from opener George Burrows, who had earlier claimed three for 34, seeing his side to victory in just 24.3 overs.
Unbeaten leaders Crosby took the points without even having to take the field after bottom side Castletown conceded.
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