National team step up Euro preparations

On Saturday, the national team continued with its build-up for this month’s European Second Divi­sion Championships by playing a friendly against a Marsa team.

The national team batted first and Nowell Khosla and Andy Lenard opened the innings. Khosla was the first to go, well caught by Mike Grima at short mid-wicket with only four runs to show.

Tim Wheeler was in next and soon he was back in the pavillion before Andy Naudi joined Lenard at the crease to bring some stability to the batting.

Naudi made 20 runs before being caught by Malcolm Crabbe. Justin Brooke did well, scoring 13 runs before Lenard finally retired after scoring a well-timed 62.

Mark G. Sacco also batted well for 19 runs as the national team totalled 157 runs. For the Marsa side, George Agius and Mike Caruana both took three wickets each.

In reply, the Marsa team fell apart and were bowled out for 59 runs. Only Bikram Arora stood out, scoring 28 runs as none of the other batsmen made it past double figures.

Naudi was the main wicket-taker with three while Khosla and Amit Chopra both took two.

Meanwhile, last week Marsa took on HMS Liverpool’s cricket team. The hosts were first at the crease and batted well with Arora making 54 runs, Crabbe and Mirza Jatinder both adding 28 and John Grima making nine runs.

For the naval team, Gray, Kirk and Spencer took a wicket each.

In reply, HMS Liverpool were mesmerised by the Marsa bowlers and were bowled out for a mere 35 runs. The visitors’ best score came from Gray who finished with a very modest seven runs.

Tony Slater was the main source of the visiting team’s downfall, taking three wickets and three catches.

Another friendly will be played on Saturday, just 24 hours before the national team depart for Belgium for the European Championship matches.