Cricket: Beard guides IoM to victory in first European Championships match

Second match takes place today

Eddie Beard hit 48 off 19 balls to help the Isle of Man cricket team to victory in their opening match of the Dream 11 European Cricket Championships.

The Manx side took on Croatia in their first T10 game yesterday (23 September) and beat they Balkan side by nine wickets in the fifth over to seal a comprehensive win. 

Island captain Ollie Webster opted to field at the coin toss which meant the Balkan team batted first and they made 62/8 in the allotted 10 overs. 

Kieran Cawte was the pick of the bowlers for the Manx as he took three wickets and conceded only three runs in his two over spell to restrict the Croats to a subpar total. 

Beard and Webster then opened the batting for the Isle of Man and the former did not want to waste any time as he hit five 4s and four 6s, but he fell just short of a half century as he was dismissed by Anthony Razmilic on 48. 

Carl Hartmann then came in at three and made sure of the win as he hit a four to win the game in the fifth over. 

The Isle of Man now will take on Bulgaria at 10.45 this morning (24 September) and the Manx have been put into bat.

The match will be streamed live on the European Cricket Network's YouTube channel.