Ali sways tide in Marsa’s favour for 2011 summer league title

The much-awaited game between Marsa and Krishna to determine the Summer League winners this year was played on Saturday.

Krishna, who also sported a mascot for the occasion, batted first. They had a poor start, losing key players Andy Lenard and Javed Shah by the third over with only a run between them.

Bikram Arora then took to the crease and along with Sunny Krishna steered the team to a reasonable total. Arora was to retire (local rule) after 30 balls and scored 34 runs. Krishna went on to make 19 before being caught in the deep by Ronnie Sacco.

John Grima was the only other batsman who made it into double figures, scoring 11 runs for a tally of 104.

For Marsa, Derek Ali and Sarfraz Ali both took three wickets each.

In reply, Marsa also had a shaky start with Justin Thorne (six runs) and Frank Spiteri (no runs) out in the second over to the bowling of Adam Krishna.

Matt Booth (22) and Malcolm Crabbe (16) tried to settle in but once their wickets were taken, victory was in the air for Krishna.

Three more wickets fell but Derek Ali wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

In fact, he batted patiently, hit out at calculated times and eventually took his team to victory making 31 runs from 25 balls.

It was Marsa’s fourth Summer League title.

In the final standings, Marsa (39) finished ahead of Melita (36), Krishna (18) and Overseas (13).

On Sunday, Marsa took on new touring team I Zingari from the United Kingdom in a 35-over game. The locals batted first and totalled 164 runs.

Bikram Arora top-scored with 40 runs as Frank Spiteri added 38, Andy Naudi 29 and Sunny Krishna 20.

In reply, the tourists pushed hard with Earl Fortesche (36), A. Martin Smith (31), Lord Stafford (10) and A. Carroll (33).

The game went to the last over where the visitors lost their remaining three wickets and only made one run. The home team secured victory by eight runs.

Next weekend sees new touring team Effigies playing here in a two-game series.