Following a short break, cricket is back at Marsa with a heavy schedule for the next two months. Last weekend saw 'Old Paulines' on their first tour to Malta.
Despite a shaky start with the bat, these University students, all ex-pupils of St Paul's College in London, have ample opportunity for their first win with three 40-over matches to go.
On Saturday, Marsa batted first. The Old Boys grabbed the initiative when Pugh and Clappe combined to dismiss Marsa's top three bats for less than 20 runs... a disastrous start for the home side.
However, the middle order and tail regrouped to edge their way towards a total of 145 all out in 39.5 overs. Farrugia (19) and R. Krishna (15) sensibly weathered the storm before Towers (18) and Swift (22) pushed the total past the 100-mark.
Finally, a determined 20 not out from Hewitt gave the locals a slim chance. Top bowlers for the visitors were Pugh (8-0-29-3), Methuen (8-1-18-2) and Clappe (5-0-19-1) with Collis, Mann and Price supporting well.
Following their excellent fielding performance, the Paulines' bats never got going. Llewelyn 8-3-20-5) and Dhandapani (6-4-6-3) showed no mercy as they pounded the visitors with precision bowling. Only Collis and Methuen managed double figures as Old Paulines were dismissed for 51 off 24 overs.
On Sunday, Marsa again won the toss and batted first. The Paulines again took an early wicket but A. Spiteri (50) and C. Naudi (30) built a good partnership of 87 for the second wicket.
Caruana (63 not out) kept the momentum going, as Hewitt (13) and Ali (15) pushed the score ahead to give Marsa a good total of 211 for eight in their 40 overs.
The Paulines' reply saw a vast improvement from the previous day. They edged their way to 182 before being 'all out' with one ball to spare. Williams top-scored with 34 and combined well with Collis (27).
For the locals, Hewitt (3-13) and A. Spiteri (3-27) bowled well. It was great to see youngsters Sagar Krishna (3-22) pitching up his spinners and Andrew Cole taking a superb catch just short of the boundary.