Saturday saw the beginning of a new inter-club competition at Marsa. This version of the game is shorter than the normal 40, 45 or 50 over game and the players required is also less than the usual 11.

A team can field a minimum of seven players and a maximum of nine. The most distinctive difference to the game is that a batsman faces 30 balls. Regardless of his score, he has to retire but can come back in when all the other batsmen are out.

On Saturday, Sliema Krishna took on the HSBC Cavaliers. Both teams fielded nine players.

Sliema won the toss and elected to bat. C. Naudi and J. Ghoseroy opened the batting, but HSBC struck three early blows, Glen taking two wickets for 22 runs. This newcomer showed all-round skills and deserved his man-of-the-match accolade.

In came the in-form S. Dhandapani who continued where he left off the previous week, racing to 36 runs off his 30 balls and retiring.

At the other end, C. Naudi batted patiently for 18 runs in his allotted 30 balls and also retiring. Both batsmen returned to pick up the score - Naudi ended with 40 runs not out while Dhandapani was last man out with 74. For the Cavaliers G. Hewitt and D.D. Paul took two wickets each. Sliema made 143 runs.

In reply, the Cavaliers spread the runs between them with A. Spiteri making 43 with one six and six fours, Glen making 43 runs retired with five fours, S. Ali 21 not out and J. Grima 14 runs with two fours.

The Sliema bowlers could only manage three wickets. Cavaliers took the first game and earned three points. In their next match, Sliema Krishna take on Marsa.