Malta v Spain at Corfu – European Championship Division Two Twenty20 (Group A) – Match Update
Putting forth an intense all-round effort, Spain demolished Malta in a 10-wicket victory in their Group A match played at the Ropa Valley No 2 Ground on September 6, during the ongoing European Championship Division Two Twenty20 being held in Corfu.
Malta won the toss and elected to bat first, but Spain launched an aggressive bowling attack spearheaded by Mark Spencer (3.2-0-10-3), with Sajad Ali (4-0-17-2), Mohib Hussein (3-0-22-2), and Talat Nadeem (4-0-33-2) chipping in with supporting performances.
The Spanish bowlers scythed through Malta’s batting order, restricting them to 119, all out, by the final over.
John Callus (9) and David Borg (4) opened the innings for their side, but were unable to contribute much. Their opening stand yielded just 10 runs, after which Borg was bowled by Talat Nadeem, while Nowell Khosla (12) and Callus were both sent packing by
Hussein.
Angelo Spiteri contributed 18 runs, and set up a 14-run 4th-wicket stand with skipper Andrew Naudi, who top-scored for the side with 29. George Agius (4) remained unremarkable, but Ronald Sacco (10) set-up Malta’s highest partnership – a 27-run
stand – with Naudi. The remainder of the batting order remained lacklustre, however, and Malta eventually finished, all out, at 119.
The 120-run target posed no problems for Spain, who managed to reach 121 by the 12th over, with zero wickets down.
Armaghan Khan and Tariq Ali opened the innings for their side, and managed to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 contributed 51 off 34, including 3 sixes and 4 fours,
while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tariq-Ali-c92775 managed an individual score of 58 off 34, with 5 sixes and 3 fours.
Malta’s bowlers remained powerless in the face of the Spanish batsmen, with Callus proving the most expensive, giving away 20 runs in just one over. Michael Caruana bled 13 in one over, while Balakrishnan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/D-Dhandapani-c51940 gave away 5 from just 2 deliveries.
Spain’s single partnership enabled them to reach 121 with 10 wickets and 52 deliveries remaining – a victory which has earned them a spot in the tournament semi-final against Sweden on September 7.
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