Melita go top after beating Krishna

The Division One match between Melita and Krishna, from the Malta Cricket Association Summer League, was played last weekend.

Melita produced a great batting display, a performance that even bettered their score with which they had beaten Marsa in their previous match.

Joy Ghoseroy and Tim Wheeler opened the batting.

The luckless Wheeler was run out without facing a ball and understandably not very happy with how things evolved at the crease. Ghoseroy made up for it by eventually retiring with 31 runs from 30 balls faced. He scored three 4s along the way but it was an unusual innings for him, taking five balls to get off the mark.

Tony Slater had his first hit in the league and made 15 runs from 17 balls. Bikram Arora smashed 29 and Greg Symons managed three before being bowled.

The next two batsmen, Derek Ali and Andy Naudi, faced 39 balls between them and only five had no runs attached. Ali was the main contributor, scoring 42 runs from 21 balls, including six 4s and a 6. Naudi scored 34 from 18 balls.

Melita was aided with 22 extras which brought their total to 176 runs from their allotted overs.

For Krishna, Stefan Cuschieri, Adam Krishna and Andy Lenard were the only wicket-takers, taking one each.

In reply, Krishna opted for big shots but the strategy led to their demise. Extras was the side’s top-score with 27 as Lenard finished with 14 and Robert Scerri with ten runs.

Krishna only managed 70 runs as Tom Reid was the main wicket-taker with four. Gordon Hewitt and Ian Pendelbury both took two wickets each and junior Daniel Galea, bowling in his first game, took a wicket.

Melita earned 11 points from the game which sent them top of the standings with 21 points from two games. Marsa are second with 17 points from three games.

Meanwhile, Gozo were awarded eight points after a walk-over on the RMG team in another league match.