The MCA Winter Wallop League got underway last weekend with holders Melita Bees playing against Krishna Cobras at the Marsa oval.

The competition will be played on a 20-over format.

Frank Spiteri and Matt McKeon opened the batting for the Bees. After a slow start, Spiteri went on to top score for his team with 43 runs, which included three fours and two sixes. He retired after facing 30 balls (local rule).

McKeon, not really noted for being a fast scorer, put that notion aside after hitting a 20 from 15 balls. He was run out after a huge mix-up.

Tim Wheeler was bowled after a single run and will go down in the local cricket annals as being Mike Caruana’s 1,000th wicket.

That impressive total for Caruana comes over a period of 27 years in all formats of the game.

Chris Naudi, who seemed keen on practising the switch hit, actually made 22 runs when he elected not to play it as Joy Ghoseroy batted well for 23. Daniel Galea chipped in with two runs not out in the end.

The Krishna bowling was not up to scratch and they gave away 36 extras. Melita totalled 147 runs. Justin Farrin Thorne was the only other wicket-taker with two. Amazingly, Krishna used nine bowlers.

In reply, Krishna struggled with Nowell Khosla being the main batsman who left any impact on the board, making 39 runs.

Ravi Sharma added 18, Amal Arajans 14, Adam Krishna 13 but the four other batsmen did not make it to double digits.

Extras were 18 in a total of 133 runs.

For Melita, Mark Clayton took two wickets, while Frank Spiteri, Joy Ghoseroy and Gordon Hewitt took a wicket each.

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