Cricket: Last-ball heartache for Isle of Man against Estonia

Manx team denied at the death at Cartama Oval

The Isle of Man men's cricket side suffered heartache today (26 September) as they fell to defeat on the last ball of the game against Estonia at the 2024 European Cricket Championships.

The Estonians claimed victory by three wickets in the Challenger Division Group One Qualifier at the Cartama Oval in Malaga, Spain with a final score of 151-7, overhauling the Isle of Man's benchmark beforehand of 148-2.

Requiring four runs to win on the last ball of the game, Estonia's star performer Steffan Gooch hit a commanding six to rip victory away from the Island squad.

It was also revenge for Estonia who'd been on the end of a four-wicket loss to the same Isle of Man side in the group stage only a day earlier.

Having won the toss, Estonia chose to field and into bat first the Isle of Man made a steady innings as both captain Ollie Webster (55 runs) and Eddie Beard (58 runs) managed half-centuries.

Beard was eventually dismissed along with the incoming Carl Hartmann, leaving Ollie Webster and Christian Webster (21 runs) with the task of eventually seeing out the ten overs to a total of 148.

Estonia started their time in bat rather shakily as captain Arslan Amjad fell for a duck having faced just two balls.

However, it was Gooch who went on to put in a scintillating display managing 106 runs not-out off 31 balls, including hitting the final decisive six on the last ball of the contest to snatch the win late on.

Estonia's next nearest batting total came from Hardik Prajapati who managed 18 runs.

The Isle of Man will now be looking to bounce back in the second qualifier against Bulgaria this afternoon where they will have another chance to meet Estonia again in tonight's final which is due to start at 7.30pm.