INDOOR CRICKETBEMBRIDGE, West Island, Binstead Royals and Ryde Youth booked their places in the semi-finals of the Sandrock Services Indoor Cup last weekend.
Ryde Youth caused an upset by beating Young Cavaliers in their match.
Youth elected to bat first and make a competitive score of 123, thanks largely to Harry Bradley (25 not out), who played some bold strokes in the closing overs.
The Cavaliers’ reply got off to a bad start with the loss of Andy Loudon to a run-out and wickets fell at regular intervals. Stuart Robertson (2-18) returned the best figures for Youth but every member of the team played his part in a fine display in the field.
The match between Cask and Crispin and Binstead produced the closest finish of the round.
Crispin set Royals a target of 125 (Owain Hooper 27 not out, Rod Kellaway 28 not out) to win.
Hooper claimed a wicket with the first ball of Royals’ innings and a second wicket fell soon afterwards but Chris Hebberd (39) and Barry Lloyd (32) brought their team back into contention.
At the start of the final over, Binstead required seven runs for victory. Three were scored off the first ball, but three dot balls and a wicket followed and, with one ball remaining, four runs needed for victory; the odds seemed to favour Crispin.
However, Alex Dear struck a six and the Royals achieved a well-deserved win.
Bembridge and West Island defeated Wootton and Arreton, respectively.