Over the weekend the Marsa C.C played newcomers Wales Over 50’s in a two game series.
On Saturday the home team batted first. The visitors bowled extremely well and kept the hosts to 55 runs from 20 overs and also took the wickets of Dave Borg (14 runs),Andy Naudi (20 runs) and that of Ranjit playing in his first game.
Paul Bradley and George Agius started to put a partnership together until Agius was bowled after making 18 runs. John Grima now joined Bradley and together put on a face saving partnership of 76 runs.
Bradley was finally caught when he had made 52 runs. Grima remained to the end, ending with 41 runs not out. Ronnie Sacco made a cameo innings scoring 22 runs off t12 balls to liven up the innings total. The home team scored 171 runs from their overs.
For the Wales team R. Walton, P. Godwin, C. Tucker and M. Lloyd all took a wicket.
The Wales reply was up and down right through the innings with M. Hayden (17 runs), J. Morris (24 runs), D. Grifftith (22 runs) and M. Cockell (11 runs). They all had starts and their wickets were taken at critical times.
The game came to the last over with M. Lloyd (32 runs) and P. Godwin (27 runs) at the crease with seven runs needed. The pair only needed four balls to polish of the runs and won the game with two balls to spare.
Sarfraz Ali was the main wicket taker with two for the home side. John Grima chipped in with three stumpings behind the stumps. Wales went one up on the series.
On Sunday the Wales team batted first and totalled 193 runs from their 40 overs. P. Docherty led the innings with a well structured 72 runs which included six fours. His innings came to an end with a brilliant piece of fielding by Tony Slater who, after he bowled, fielded the ball and quickly threw down the stumps of Docherty who had thought he had hit the ball past Slater.
Other contributors to the score were S. Jones (35 runs), M. Lloyd (26 runs) and M. Cockell (20 runs). For the Marsa team Andy Lenard was the main wicket taker with three.
The Marsa reply was a steady one and again the game was to be decided in the last over with Andy Lenard (46 runs) and Samuel Aquilina (six runs) at the crease needing to make four runs for victory.
In a nervous over for the spectators Aquilina hit the winning run with a ball to spare. Earlier in the innings Nowell Khosla played a magnificent innings of 88 runs which included four fours and three sixes. Sunny Krishna also chipped in with 38 runs. For the visitors P. Godwin was the main wicket taker with two. The Marsa team win the game and square the series.
Next Saturday the Summer league continues with Krishna C.C taking on newcomers POP Mellieha C.C. In the morning the Sunoco Cricket academy/nursery will be from 9am till 10.30am.