The second match from the series between the Captain’s XI and the Chairman’s XI commenced under cloudy skies at the Marsa Sports Club cricket oval last weekend.

It was agreed that the match would be 35 overs. John Grima, for the Captains XI, won the toss and elected to field first.

Nowell Khosla and Sarfraz Ali opened the innings.

Unlike the previous week’s superb innings, Khosla only scored five runs this time when his innings was cut short by a great catch at deep mid-off by Chris Belford.

Ali (14) was run out after a mix-up in the middle with G. Kampff.

F. Akbar continued cautiously at the crease, hoping to build a batting partnership, but only managed 12 runs off 40 balls before spooning a catch to wicket-keeper Grima.

The players went off the pitch when a slight rain spell stopped proceedings.

It didn’t affect the match too much though and only reduced the game by one over.

Stephen Lucas (24 not out) and Sam Aquilina (15) put on a late flurry of runs and took the team’s total to 124. This was below-par batting for a 34 over innings.

Luke Bradley and K. Kumar both took two wickets.

The Chairman’s XI opening batsmen, Joy Ghoseroy and Bikram Arora, walked to the crease in perfect sunshine but not smiling when they had to face Manning’s pace bowling.

Manning restricted the run chase helped by close fielding. With the score on 31 after nine overs, Ghoseroy (9) was caught by Manning off Anand.

Majeed (41 not out) joined Arora (50) after Grima (4) snicked a catch to keeper Aquilina. They both batted well and put on a winning partnership of 63 runs.

The winning run was hit in the 21st over by John Rusher. He kept his cool with all the Chairman’s XI fielders around the bat.

The Captain’s XI won the match by eight wickets and so levelled the series to one win each.

The only two wickets fell to Anand and Akbar.

Young Roy impressed with his bowling as only three runs were scored off his two overs.