European Cricket League: Independents win first matches in Spain

Guernsey champions Independents have got their first wins in this year's European Cricket League in Spain.

The islanders beat Tallinn Stallions by eight wickets on Wednesday for their first group win of the event.

They went on to defeat Isle of Man champions Crosby by seven wickets in their final pool game to ensure they reached Thursday's knockout stages.

The wins come after heavy losses to Spanish side Pak I Care Badalona and Austria's Donaustadt on Tuesday.

The top four sides in the five-team group will make the play-offs with the winners progressing to next week's finals.

Channel Island rivals Old Victorians from Jersey have already qualified after winning their group last week.

Having won the toss, Tallinn batted first in the day's opening match but struggled to get going - 29 runs off the third over was a highlight for the Estonian side as opener Faraaz Abbas put on the only real resistance.

He made 40 off 15 balls including five sixes before being caught off Nathan le Tissier's bowling. The Indies skipper took 2-18 while Hampshire academy player Tom Cheater claimed 2-7 as the Estonians were restricted to 94-5 off their 10 overs.

In reply Cheater - one of two wildcard players in the Indies squad - made 16 off four balls before being caught, while Zak Damerell was dismissed without scoring as Indies were left on 24-2 in the second over.

But Le Tissier and Tom Nightingale's unbeaten third-wicket stand of 72 guided Indies home - Nightingale's 35 not out off 10 balls included four sixes while le Tissier's 34 not out came off 14 balls.

Will Peatfield impressed with the ball as Indies restricted Crosby to 88-9 in their 10 overs.

The Guernsey international bowler took figures of 2-9 as the Manx side were restricted to 22-4 after three overs.

But Christo Roelofse and Jamie Brown put on 29 for the fifth wicket before Brown was caught for 10 off 12 balls to leave Crosby on 51-5 early in the seventh over.

Roelofse went on to top score with 28 off 13 balls including four sixes as Jack Brown took two wickets in as many balls before going on to get figures of 2-11 as Crosby ended with what seemed a below-par score.

But in reply Indies had a terrible start losing Damarell with the very first ball of the innings and Archie Fairfax-Ross for four to leave them on 5-2 at the end of the first over.

CJ Peatfield and Dan Moore put on 31 for the third wicket before Peatfield was caught behind for 21.

Moore went on to make 38 not out from 23 balls as he and Ollie Nightingale (23 not out) had an unbeaten stand of 54 as Indies made 90-3 off 8.4 overs.