The MCA Cricket Summer league continued last weekend. The top team, Melita Betfair C.C, took on the bottom team, Overseas C.C.

The Melita team batted first and opened up with the most reliable batsmen they have, Tim Wheeler and John Grima. Grima played a different role then normal trying to hit hard and finally was bowled for eight runs from ten balls. Mark G Sacco came in and put on a 38-run partnership before he was caught and bowled by Sean Byrne (Bradley) for 27 runs from 23 balls which included one boundary. Wheeler’s marathon innings came to an end when he was Jim Hunter’s first wicket. Wheeler made 16 runs.

Adam Krishna matched Grima’s score before becoming Hunters second wicket. Powerhouse Derek Ali was going along his merry way scoring 28 runs from 25 balls hitting two fours and a six before he top edged a ball which lobbed high towards the bowler (Jim Hunter, third wicket) who took the catch, the bowler was a bit worried as the keeper was also running for the catch, but eventually stopped. Pierre Naudi also made eight runs before being stumped. Andrea Caruana did well occupying the crease, Caruana has come up through the academy.

The Melita side totalled 126 runs and were aided with 26 extras of which 22 were wide. It still was a reasonable performance by the Overseas. Apart from Hunter, Sean Byrne and Mike Caruana took a couple wickets each

Again the Overseas struggled in the batting department - they were bowled out for 61 runs. Mike Caruana scored 30 of them, while Sean Byrne scored 12, Jim Hunter four runs, Alex Taylor three runs and there were 12 extras.

Mark G Sacco was the main wicket taker for Melita with three. Six bowlers Adam Krishna, John Grima, Tim Wheeler, Pierre Naudi, Dave Borg and Derek Ali, all took a wicket each.

From the win Melita earned nine points while Overseas earned one. Melita will take on Krishna C.C tomorrow, where they will be crowned champions whether they win or lose. Krishna will be looking to win to be the runner’s up.

Last Sunday the Malta Select team took on the Rest, where the Malta team batted first and totalled 163 runs of which Nowell Khosla top scored with 56 runs.

The Rest batted well but could only score 134 runs where Sam Aquilina top scored with 28 runs.

European Division 2 news

The fixtures are out for the upcoming European division 2 championships in Corfu between 3 and 8 September:

Matches as follows:

Day 1: 10.30am Malta v Portugal

Day 2: 10.30am Malta v Israel; 3.30pm Malta v Luxembourg

Day 3: 3.30pm Malta v Estonia

Day 4: 10.30am Malta v Spain

Day 5: Cross-Over Semi-finals  Malta v Grp B      

Sat. 08/9 Day 6: Play-Offs for Final Placing