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Report
Excellent batting from captain Andy Leward 24 hours later saw a different and rather younger Marsa to the riches of 174/7. The Gents bowled steadily until the last few overs, held some good catches, dropped a few while the outfielders hit the stumps four times without securing a run out. Rain came at lunch and although Denton and H Patel were looking good further downpours flooded the ground and the captains shook hands on a draw. As often happens, the clouds then lifted and sun bathed the island. But the artificial wicket was soaked and the run ups and outfield were puddled.
Khosla and Wheeler batted soundly in the gloom against Iqbal and Rudru, who both took a blow after 8 overs, Marsa 28/0. A few chances were spurned but Sciberras, who had a notable weekend’s cricket in the land of his forefathers, caught Wheeler off his own bowling. Khosla was reeled in by mid-wicket H Patel off S Patel’s bowling before Khan produced a beauty to deceive Grima. The gritty Navos and the flamboyant Arura then took the attack to the bowlers. The strip seemed faster and the outfield quicker than Saturday’s, though rain was in the air. The game proceeded within earshot of the nearby trot racing, the atmosphere rich, the cricket hard.
Arura was given out lbw by Iqbal, the umpire agreeing with him. Gents had fought back well. H Patel took a tough caught and bowled to dismiss Aquilina and the tourists had further success with the run out of Navos, who slipped after being sent back by his partner and H Desai’s neat catch off Sciberras to see off Azzoparoi. This was the apex of Gents’ fortunes as Leward then smote 42 off 33 balls (three 4s, 2 6s) with his dogged partner, the youthful A Krishna, defiant and resilient. In Malta, it seems, a teenager told to do something will do it.
No sooner had Marsa’s innings ended than the rain came, drizzle at first then more intense. Their total was par for the conditions on a fast wicket. Captain Leward’s innings was worthy of high praise but Gents showed commitment and skill in the field, though some of the groundfielding was patchy. Over a lunch of pasta, captain Gilkes worked out the batting order. He would bat 10, with plenty of experience at the top of the order and blasters in the middle.
The 4.1 overs faced by Denton and H Patel saw plenty of extras, a cut for four by Patel and few alarms. The umpires took the players off after further rain, whereupon the hosts sprung into action with the covers. The rain stopped for half an hour and the wicket was swept of moisture but a further downpour put an end to the game. There were reasons for Gents to be hopeful about the outcome, but it was too early in the innings for any trends to have emerged. H Patel won the tourists’ Man of the Match award but it was a shame that the batsmen did not have a chance to show what they could do. There was time to enjoy more generosity from the marvellous hosts before the transport arrived and with thank yous and handshakes galore the weekend’s cricket was over.
Malta Tour 2011
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