Isle of Man have won the European Under 17B Championships on their own grounds with a five wickets victory over Italy in the final at King William’s College. In front of a large and parochial crowd they reached their target of 110 with 12 overs to spare.
Fittingly captain Daniel Hawke was at the other end when Shaun Kelly hit the winning boundary. Hawke finished 27 not out and ensured against any accidents when Ross Burns was run out for 43 with the total on 92.
Indeed the only time the hosts were in trouble was when they attempted to run quick singles, two of them proving fatal, but there was no need to hurry chasing such a modest total.
It was the Island’s bowlers which set up the victory with scarcely a weak link as Italy, most people’s favourites coming into the final after their impressive saunter through Group A, were restricted to 109 for nine in their 40 overs.
After Matthew Ansell made the breakthrough with the last ball of the eighth over, Seb Aycock then took his customary three wickets which, with the help of a run out by Robert Hester and a wicket for Kelly reduced Italy to 54 for six after 25 overs.
From that position Italy did well to double their total with Muhammad Adnan scoring 23 off 27 with four boundaries and Alamin Mia also reaching double figures before he was bowled by Ansell who also finished with three wickets.
The steady Isle of Man opening partnership failed this time, with both Carl Wagstaffe and Adam McAuley back in the pavilion inside four overs but Adam Killey, promoted to No 3, led the fightback and Burns and Hawke did the rest to give the hosts a comfortable victory and leave the Italians runners-up for the second successive Under 17 tournament.