- May 7, 2025
MLT vs EST (1st T20I) – Highlights
The 1st T20I of the Estonia tour of Malta, held at Marsa on May 6, 2025, provided cricket fans with a thrilling encounter as Malta emerged victorious by 26 runs. With a solid total of 199/9 in their 20 overs, Malta’s batters set up a challenging target for Estonia, who ultimately fell short at 173/5, despite a valiant effort. This match showcased intense competition between the two sides, with both batting and bowling performances making their mark.
Malta’s innings began with a quick wicket as Darshit Patankar fell early for just 1, caught by Paul off the bowling of Gheewala. However, Rockey Dianish, who followed Patankar, played a fiery knock of 27 runs off 13 balls, featuring three boundaries and a six. Despite his early departure, the start was promising. Eldhose Mathew also struggled, falling for 1, leaving Malta at a precarious 30/3. At this point, Priyan Pushparajan joined forces with Varun Thamotharam to build a much-needed partnership.
Pushparajan’s knock of 29 runs off 22 balls helped stabilize the innings, but it was Thamotharam who led the charge with a powerful 63 runs off 39 balls, including three fours and five sixes. His aggressive batting helped Malta reach a total of 113 by the 12th over. Mehboob Ali continued the momentum, smashing a quickfire 53 runs off 24 balls, including two fours and six sixes, taking Malta’s total to 179 in just 19.1 overs. Jaspal Singh, who contributed 12 off 5 balls, and Shrijay Patel, who added a couple of runs before being dismissed, brought the innings to a close at 199/9.
In response, Estonia started their chase with Habib Khan and Steffan Gooch, both of whom contributed significantly in the opening overs. Khan made 30 runs off 23 balls, while Gooch added 25 runs off 15 balls. The early partnerships seemed promising, but Malta’s bowlers had other plans. David Marks was the standout bowler for Malta, picking up three crucial wickets. His performance included the dismissals of both Gooch and Khan, leaving Estonia at 43/2 after 4.5 overs.
Estonia’s top order continued to struggle. Ali Masood, who had scored a solid 10 runs off 15 balls, was dismissed by Priyan Pushparajan. Following him, Sahil Chauhan, with 25 runs off 17 balls, fell to Jaswinder Singh, leaving the chase at a challenging 81/4. Despite the setbacks, Captain Arslan Amjad rallied Estonia’s efforts with a 24-run knock off 24 balls.
With just 27 runs required from the final over, Estonia’s Stuart Hook, who remained unbeaten on 46 off 25 balls, kept the hopes alive. However, the pressure mounted, and Hook’s efforts could not prevent Estonia from falling short, as they finished on 173/5, handing Malta a well-deserved 26-run victory.
The bowling performance by Malta was equally impressive. David Marks led the charge with three wickets for 31 runs, while Priyan Pushparajan and Jaswinder Singh picked up key wickets, taking one each. The bowlers restricted Estonia’s chase despite a spirited knock from Hook, and in the end, Malta managed to seal the victory.
In conclusion, this thrilling encounter demonstrated the significance of both batting and bowling depth. Malta’s balanced performance, with key contributions from Thamotharam, Ali, and Marks, was instrumental in their win. Estonia’s valiant chase, led by Hook, was not enough to cross the line, leaving them with a tough loss. The 1st T20I of the series set the stage for an exciting remainder of the tour, and both teams would be eager to learn from this match for the upcoming fixtures.
Malta vs Estonia Scoreboard
Malta – 199/9 (20.0)
Estonia – 173/5 (20.0)
Result – Malta won by 26 runs
Player of the match – Varun Prasath Thamotharam
Varun Prasath Thamotharam
MLT vs EST Playing XIs
Malta | Varun Prasath Thamotharam (c), Rockey Dianish (wk), Mehboob Ali, Jaspal Singh, Eldhose Mathew, Waseem Abbas, Darshit Patankar, Shrijay Patel, Priyan Pushparajan, David Marks, Jaswinder Singh |
Estonia | Arslan Amjad (c), Marko Vaik (wk), Aditya Paul, Ali Masood, Rupam Baruah, Kalle Vislapuu, Sahil Chauhan, Pranay Gheewala, Steffan Gooch, Habib Khan, Stuart Hook |
Disclaimer: These Match highlights reflect the author’s insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the points discussed and form their own conclusions.
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