Chairman's team too weak in reply

The fifth match from the Chairman's XI versus Captain's XI series was played on Saturday. The chairman's team won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Openers Chris Naudi and Mark G. Sacco were going along steadily until a remarkable piece of fielding by Firoz had Sacco run out.

Sacco had hit the ball hard and took off for a run. Unfortunately for him, however, Firoz was quick enough to retrieve the ball and throw it in quickly. Sacco had made five runs.

Angelo Spiteri came to the crease and put on a 27-run partnership with Naudi who, however, was next out being bowled for 19.

John Callus, the main protagonist of the previous match, this time only managed nine runs before being bowled.

Mike Caruana added a slow 12 and Spiteri went on to make 58 before being caught by Firoz right on the boundary line.

Faraaz Bhatti chipped in with 18 runs as the Captain's XI were bowled out in the 42nd over, totalling a mere 172.

The Chairman's team were expected to win this one but in an extraordinary effort from their opponents they were bowled out in the 22nd over with Ronnie Sacco leading the attack, taking five wickets for 16 runs from six overs.

The Chairman's XI batsmen were all out for 49 runs.

European Championship

The Malta national team will be in Spain next weekend ahead of the ECC European Third Divison Championship.

Matches: August 31 vs Spain; September 1 vs Israel; September 2 vs Portugal; September 4 vs Isle of Man; September 5 vs Belgium.