Marsa stay top after beating Overseas

After a two-week break, the Skanska Summer Trophy was off to a flying first game between Marsa and Overseas last weekend.

Marsa won the toss and batted first. They amassed an incredible 225 runs from the allotted 20 overs. The Overseas bowlers did not help their situation and gave away 43 wides.

John Callus opened for Marsa and smashed a quick 22 before being caught. But the runs kept coming with Nowell Khosla making 40, including six 4s, Mike Caruana 26, Desmond Don Paul 45, also including six 4s, and Sarfraz Ali 39.

In reply Overseas showed some fight in the likes of Mike Smith who made 30 runs, Tom Harvey 29, Piers Allen 32 not out and Mark Ferris 19 not out. But they could only manage 145 in their run chase.

For Marsa, Nowell Khosla took three wickets and Mike Caruana two. Marsa won the game and collected nine other points while Overseas only earned a batting bonus point.

In the second game, a much closer encounter was played between Krishna and Melita.

Krishna batted first. Javed Shah was off to one of his bursting starts, hitting three 4s off the first five balls he faced. However, he was caught in his sixth ball trying to hit a very short pitched ball to the boundary.

Pierre Naudi batted well. He was not out with 25 runs. Andrew Naudi chipped in with 37 and Alan Swift added 16. Jim Towers made 13 runs and veteran Walter Glynn contributed with 15 as Krishna totalled 145 runs from their overs.

For Melita, Roger Walker was their main wicket-taker with two wickets.

Melita started chasing the score but their last wicket fell after 13 runs from eight balls. The weight of the run chase was on Rory O'Brien's shoulder. He made a gallant 39 before being given LBW.

Walker did well late in the innings, scoring 25 runs. Earlier, Dameon Willis made 16 and Jed O'Brien 12 not out.

Krishna beat Melita to consolidate their second placing in the standings. The nine points won kept them with a chance of winning the trophy.

Nine points separate them from Marsa before Saturday's direct clash at 11 a.m. In the other match, Melita play Overseas at 2.30 p.m.