The Malta Cricket Association Winter League came to an abrupt end last weekend when Melita Betfair were crowned champions following a walkover conceded by four-time winners Krishna.

Melita were by far the most consistent side in this three-team competition and did not lose a game.

The league did not produce the amount of runs which are normally associated with Twenty20 cricket. In fact, the highest score was 130 by Krishna in their match against Marsa.

There were only two other scores over 100 runs - 105 and 101 - both surprisingly recorded by wooden spoonists Marsa. The latter, however, also had the lowest scores of the tournament - 55 and 64 in their matches against Melita.

With the league ending prematurely, a 30-over warm-up was played on Saturday between the Chairman's XI and Captain's XI ahead of the big game of the weekend where Melita take on the combined strengths of the other two teams in a 40-over game.

Sarfraz Ali opened the batting for the Chairman's XI, making five runs before being caught. Anthony Roberts batted well for 23.

Justin Brooke (41) and Andy Lenard (42) played their personal best innings of the year as the Chairman's team totalled 155 runs. For the Captain's XI, Malcolm Crabbe was the main wicket-taker with three.

The Captain's team reached the required tally with relative ease with runs flowing from the bat as early as the first over where Andy Naudi and Crabbe took 11 runs from it.

Naudi added 18 and Crabbe top scored with an impressive 52, including four 4s and three 6s. Nowell Khosla scored 46, Derek Ali 23, Robert Krishna nine and Robert Scerri completed the run chase with a glorious lofted cover drive.

Next Saturday's game starts at 10.30 a.m. Academy activities will be from 9 and 10.30 a.m.