Over the weekend Marsa CC played against Ladymead CC who were on their third tour to the island. In the previous tours both teams had won a series each two nil.
On Saturday, a thirty-over game was played with the visitor batting first. They were bowled out for 144 runs. C. Broome top scored with thirty runs. W. Gooda and L. Hamman both scored nineteen runs, J. Craven made seventeen and thirteen runs a piece were made by M. Gooda and C. Shambrook.
For Marsa, Sarfraz Ali and Ravi Sharma both took three wickets each. Sharma’s three overs only cost eight runs. Suhrid Roy, Kevin krishna and Derek Ali took a wicket each. Were the Marsa batsmen up for the run chase?
Malcolm Crabbe (nineteen runs) and Mark G Sacco opened the innings and gave a good start of forty runs before Crabbe was dismissed. Sacco went on to score a great fifty two runs which included eight boundaries. Sam Aquilina continued his good form and was unfortunate not to make a half century falling short by four runs.
The Marsa team made the required runs in the twenty fifth over. For the visitors D. Shambrook took three wickets and M. Gooda took one. Marsa go one up in the series.
On Sunday in a forty-over game the Marsa team batted first. A great innings from one of Malta’s finest batsman, Frank Spiteri, had him scoring his twenty fifth century against touring teams. He opened the innings and remained not out with 116 runs to his name. His innings included eleven boundaries and a six.
It was a very well crafted innings which set up a good total. Bikram Arora scored twenty four runs and Nowell Khosla thirty runs. The final total after 40 overs was 227 runs.
For Ladymead C. Brome and C. Shambrook took two wickets each while D. Shambrook and A. Mackay took a wicket each. This time the Marsa bowlers needed to bowl well.
J. Craven played a brilliant innings making 104 runs which included thirteen boundaries, his partnership of eighty two runs with W. Gooda (twenty seven runs) and another partnership of ninety two runs with C. Brome (sixty two runs, which included eight boundaries) set up a great victory for the visitors which tied the series.
For Marsa Nowell Khosla took two wickets while Tony Slater, Ronnie Sacco, Bikram Arora and Ali Hamza took a wicket each.
This coming weekend the Marsa team take on new touring team, Occasionals CC in a three game series.
On Saturday the Sunoco Academy/Nursery will be from 9:00 till 10:30am.