Naudi leads Marsa to victory over Crossbats

UK team Crossbats CC, here for their first visit to the islands, played Marsa in a friendly series over the weekend.

On Saturday, Marsa batted first with John Grima and Joy Ghoseroy the openers.

Ghoseroy was first to go for three runs but in went Andy Naudi to produce a 106-run partnership with Grima, before the latter was bowled for 39.

Khosla was next in and out, bowled for four runs. Ronnie Sacco joined Naudi at the crease and together they put on a run of 146 points. Sacco scored 60 but the innings belonged to Naudi who ended on 135 runs not out.

Crossbats gave away 46 extras and Marsa totalled a massive 285.

With such a huge task ahead of them, Crossbats tried to get some early runs but in doing so lost quick wickets. They were eventually bowled out for 139 runs. Collier made 53 and Wright added 26.

On Sunday, Marsa won the toss and elected to bat first again. This time the openers were Ganeesh and Tosif.

Ganeesh was bowled for three runs while Tosif went on to make 24. Javed Shah chipped in with 15 and Firoz added another 45.

Darren Grech played his personal best innings and made 18 runs as Naudi was again in the runs, making 46. Marsa reached 195 runs.

But Marsa's bowlers were again in fine form, with Sacco and Grech taking three wickets each and Naudi two. The visitors were bowled out for 93 runs.

Marsa won the series 2-0.

The MCA Summer League continues next weekend with the matches Melita-Overseas and Marsa-Krishna.