Cricket: Al Ansar CC Start touring season by squaring series with Marsa CC

Malta Independent Thursday, 10 March 2011, 00:00 Last update: about 14 years ago

Over the weekend the touring season began for cricket in Malta. Al Ansar C.C, a team from Birmingham, England came for their first visit to the Maltese islands to play a two game series against the Marsa C.C.

On Saturday the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. They were off to a bad start losing to early wickets for a run apiece, one was bowled and the other a brilliant piece of fielding by Ronnie Sacco who threw down the stumps which had the batsman run out.

Imran, the Al Ansar captain, top scored for his team and scored 49 runs before being caught which included four fours and a six.

Hamid was next best scorer with 37 runs. Two other batsmen made it over 10 runs - Usman (13) and Fayyaz (12) before the team was bowled out for 159 runs.

For the Marsa team Mike Caruana and Ronnie Sacco were the wicket takers with two each, while Andy Lenard,Nowell Khosla,Joy Ghoseroy and Tim Wheeler all took a wicket each.

The Marsa team’s reply was very slow, Nowell Khosla scored 31 runs from 46 balls and Mark G Sacco scored 22 runs from 74 balls. This put pressure on the middle order batsmen and they all collapsed, none making more than 10 runs.

With two wickets remaining and 48 runs needed off 42 balls Mike Caruana joined Andy Lenard at the crease.

These two batsmen caused the visiting team a headache and made sure their team won, even though there was only one ball left when they did win.

Both batsmen scored 25 runs off 27 balls. For Al Ansar Hamid (three wickets) and Nassar (two wickets) were the pick of the bowlers.

Marsa go one up in the series.

On Sunday Al Ansar were determined to win and again batted first after winning the toss. They piled an impressive score of 194 runs. Their captain, Imran, top scored with 62 runs. Other contributions came from Ghazanfar (32), Asfar (26), and Usman (21

For the Marsa team Ian Pendlebury impressed, taking four wickets, Tony Slater was also in form taking three. Andy Lenard took two and Gordon Hewitt took one.

Unfortunately for the Marsa team the total was too much and only managed to total 149 runs. Sarfraz Ali top scoring with 41 runs. For the visitors, Waqqas and Imran were the main wicket takers with two each. Al Ansar managed to square the series.

Next Saturday the Chairman’s XI will take on the Captain’s XI. In a match which starts at 12.30pm. The academy/nursery will be from 9am till 10.30am.