Captain’s team win reduced match

The game between the Chairman’s XI and Captain’s XI on Saturday was in jeopardy follow-ing the early-morning rain.

Eventually, a game was played but the original 20-over was reduced to a 15-over friendly with batsmen retiring after facing 20 balls.

The Chairman’s team batted first and the first three batsmen all scored 21 runs.

Malcolm Crabbe made the runs in 15 balls, Joy Ghoseroy retired after 20 balls and Nowell Khosla survived 19 balls.

Andy Lenard scored 11 runs from 13 balls before he was caught behind of an inside edge which was going down low to wicket-keeper Sam Aquilina’s left-hand before taking the catch.

Mark G. Sacco scored six runs and Mike Caruana was 14 not out from 16 balls as the side totalled 107 runs from their allotted overs.

Ronnie Sacco and Andy Naudi took two wickets each.

Interestingly, there were only five 4s hit in those innings.

In reply, the Captain’s side began pretty well with Javed Shah hitting the first ball of the innings for four. However, he only had eight runs to show before being bowled in the second over.

Bikram Arora played a superb innings of 25 runs from 15 balls before he was brilliantly caught by Justin Brooke. Arora hit two 6s in his innings.

Andy Naudi scored 15 from 11 balls and Ronnie Sacco was on a warpath, scoring 23 from 11 balls. Aquilina was dropped when he had not scored a single run before managing 11.

Mike Grima, a new sensation to cricket in Malta, made eight runs, and Robert Krishna did not let his side down. His 16 not out was enough for the Captain’s team to clinch victory.

For the Chairman XI, Lenard and Crabbe were the main wicket-takers with two apiece.