Prague CC took their fourth successive T20 title in the Czech Republic in style on Saturday, beating local rivals Prague Spartans by a comfortable 74-run margin at the Scott Page Field in Vinoř.
The two Prague sides had reach the final with contrasting victories in the semi-finals. In a high-scoring first match, the Spartans had seen off the challenge from Brno, for whom Dylan Steyn made a commanding 39-ball 78, to win by seven wickets with two deliveries to spare, thanks to Kranthi Venkataswamy’s not-out, 62-ball 100.
Prague, on the other hand, could only manage 137 against Vinohrady before they were all out off the final delivery of their allotted overs. But they were able to defend this total, restricting their opponents to just 116 for eight.
Batting first in the final, Prague did much better, opener Hilal Ahmad setting up their total of 174 for six with a solid knock of 42.
The Spartans were soon in trouble, Venkataswamy falling for 13 this time, and with Kushal Mendon taking three for 26 and Keyur Mehta claiming two for 10 in three economical overs, they were all out off the last ball of the 19th over for just 100.
Skanderborg clear on top on Denmark
A win over Ishøj on Saturday and a defeat by KB on Sunday kept Skanderborg on top of Denmark‘s Elite Division, but there’s still a three-way title race with KB and Svanholm just a game behind the leaders.
A solid all-round performance from Nicolaj Damgaard, who look three for 31 and followed it up with 58, took Skanderborg to a seven-wicket victory over Ishøj. Pawan Kumar made 50 in Ishøj’s total of 175 with Omar Hayat and Kamran Mahmood also claiming three wickets for Skanderborg. After Damgaard’s dismissal, Anders Bülow and Rizwan Mahmood saw their side safely home.
But the following day KB bowled Skanderborg out for just 118, and in a hard-fought game squeezed out a three-wicket victory.
Svanholm, meanwhile, maintained the pressure with a very comfortable eight-wicket win against bottom side Albertslund, an unbroken stand between Hamid Shah (51 not out) and Mads Henriksen (48 not out) ensuring that their side took the points.
At the other end of the table Soraner pulled off their first win of the season, bowling Herning out for 97 and then reaching their target with three wickets in hand despite Raizul Saumy’s five for 28. It was Naveen Bobbuti’s four for 14, coupled with three for 35 for Davinder Singh and three for 17 for Siddarth Mazer which were instrumental in the Soraners’ victory.
Farmers too strong for Old Victorians in Jersey
Farmers Caesareans stayed within striking distance of the Under-19 XI in the Jersey Premier Division with a 63-run win over Old Victorians at FB Fields.
Recovering from 36 for four, Farmers posted 179 for nine in their 40 overs, thanks to 33 from James Smith and 40 from Rhys Palmer, and with Asa Tribe taking three for 14 the Old Boys were dismissed for 116 in reply.
Kings XI make it three out of three in Italy
The Italian 50-over championship is still in the early stages of the group phase, but Kings XI Brescia have opened up a clear lead in Group C, posting a three-wicket victory over Bergamo United on Sunday to win their third match in a row.
Other sides to hold on to their unbeaten records at the weekend were Bergamo, who beat Cantù by 181 runs in Group B; Cricket Stars Modena who beat Royal Parma by 74 runs in Group D; Jinnah Brescia with a 4-wicket win over Padova in Group E; Baracca Prato, beneficiaries of a forfeit by Valdarno in Group F; and Capannelle, victors over Napoli by 106 runs.
Cronkbourne extend their lead in the Isle of Man
The big game in the Isle of Man on Saturday was between leaders Crosby and their nearest challengers Peel, and the former maintained their unbeaten record with a three-wicket victory, despite opener Ollie Webster’s 75-ball 118 for Peel.
The rest of the side were unable to maintain the momentum, and with Dave Picken taking four for 28 for Crosby, Peel were dismissed for 246.
Crosby opener Carl Hartmann matched his opposite number’s effort with 113 from 78 deliveries, hitting ten fours and eight sixes, and Jack Rowland’s 33 was enough to help his side to 249 for seven with eight balls remaining.
In other matches Valkyres beat Ramsey by five wickets, thanks in large measure to Muhammad Salman’s 86 not out, while with Jaco Jansen taking five for 27 and Garreth Roome three for 49 Castletown dismissed Finch Hill for 102 to win by nine wickets.
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