THE Division 1 crown in the Isle of Wight Leslies Motors Indoor Cricket League is within EPP’s grasp after they beat Northwood to open up a mammoth 47-point lead.

One of the Isle of Wight Cricket Board side’s young talents, Ben Attrill, could end up with two titles this season if the progress of his other team, Ryde School, the new league leaders in Division 2, continues in the coming weeks.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Ben Attrill, who plays for Division 1 runaway leaders EPP and skippers Ryde School, top of Division 2.  FILE

In last Sunday’s match at Cowes Enterprise College, Northwood’s in-form batting pair of Callum Witham (27 not out) and Liam Roberts (28 not out) helped their side to a competitive 121-3 against EPP.

But the Division’s runaway leaders made sure they kept their unbeaten indoor league record intact by reaching the runs target for the loss of only one wicket, with not out scores for Attrill (25), Dan Cox (30) and Zeph Wells (28) easing them home.

Ryde, last year’s league winners, still have a mathematical chance of winning the Division 1 title after they easily overcame Shanklin and Godshill 1 by 76 runs.

The Westhill side did well to restrict Ryde to 128-2, with Dave Pratt (27 not out) and Simon Wratten (30 not out) their leading run-makers on the night.

But Will Mew (3-15) tore through the Shanklin and Godshill batting, restricting them to just 52 in reply.

Ryde will need an unlikely sequence of results to prevent EPP from claiming the title — needing to win all four of their remaining games, while hoping EPP slip up in both of theirs.

Brading were awarded a ‘walk over win’ against the Prison Officers, who were unable to raise a side.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Mackenzie Wright, 17, of Shanklin and Godshill 2, was the star performer agaist the Isle of Wight Disability Team.  FILE

Once again, there are new leaders in Division 2 after Ryde School beat Newport by 56 runs.

Ryde School reached 148-5 — a score dominated by skipper, Attrill, who smashed an undefeated 79.

Despite a contribution of 31 from Guy Wells, Newport were skittled out for 92.

The destination of the Division 2 title will become a lot clearer on Sunday when the Scholars take on second-placed Island Bakeries.

The other game saw Shanklin and Godshill 2 score 129-1, with Dale Walker (27 not out) and Peter Wright (25 not out) leading the way in their 75-run win over the IW Cricket Board Disability Team by 75 runs, with Mackenzie Wright, 17, the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 2-9.

                                                       NEXT FIXTURES

Sunday, February 3, Division 1: Prison Officers v EPP (5pm), Ryde v Northwood (9pm); Division 2: Ryde School v Island Bakeries (6pm); IWCB Disability Team v Cowes (7pm); Shanklin and Godshill 2 v Newport (8pm).