Chairman's XI prevail over Captain's selection

On Saturday, The Chairman's XI took on the Captain's XI in a 45 game.

The Captain's team batted first. John Grima and Nowell Khosla opened the batting. Khosla was first to go being caught behind for 14 runs, which included two fours. Dave Newton was next in and next to go, making six runs from six balls.

Javed Shah did not bother the scorers, being clean bowled by Malcolm Crabbe for a golden duck.

Then came a brilliant partnership between Grima and incoming batsman Angelo Spiteri which was worth 128 runs.

The partnership was ended when Grima was caught and bowled for 36 runs by Joy Ghoseroy ending a long and careful innings.

Spiteri was soon to follow, also being caught, this time by Malcolm Crabbe off the bowling of Ghoseroy. Spiteri made 88 runs from 71 balls, including eight fours and one six.

Mike Caruana and Mark G. Sacco put on a 62-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Sacco was caught behind, giving Chris Naudi his second catch of the day. Sacco scored 23 runs including two fours.

Caruana went on to make 32 runs not out. Kevin Krishna was the other not-out batsman, scoring seven runs not out. The Captain's XI were aided by wayward bowling which totalled to 43 extras, including byes and leg byes.

The Captain's XI notched a reasonable 249 runs from their allotted overs. For the Chairman's XI, Feroz, Crabbe and Ghoseroy were the wicket takers with two wickets each.

In reply, Chris Naudi and Andy Naudi opened the batting. Chris was caught in the covers from the third ball of the first over scoring a duck. Ghoseroy came in and put on a 100-run partnership with Andy Naudi.

The latter was the next wicket to fall scoring 64 runs, including 11 fours. A couple of quick wickets taken by Caruana, that of Crabbe (five runs) and Tousif (six runs), swung the game slightly in the Captain's XI favour.

Ghoseroy was still at the crease and now partnered with Feroz, delivered another 52 runs before being run out. Ghoseroy scored a brilliant 74 runs, including five fours.

Feroz was now joined by Andy Lenard and together took the game away from the Captain's XI. Feroz just missed out on a 50, scoring 46 runs not out and Lenard 36 runs not out. The Chairman's XI won the game.

This week, returning touring team Pretenders CC play in a three-game series, starting on Friday with a twenty-20 game, and two games over the weekend.

The nursery/academy will be on Saturday from 9.30 till 11.30 a.m.

Anyone interested in taking part in the Summer League, which is due to start in the coming months, can send an email to secretary@maltacricket.biz.