MAL cruised into the semi-finals of the National Knockout Cup with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Chigwell at Woodside Playing Fields in Watford.
Chigwell won the toss and elected to make first use of a firm-looking surface. Yoav Lebens and Yoni Schurder bowled beautifully with scant reward, save the dismissal in the second over of Bloom for 2, Sam Hillel taking a high ball from Schurder's bowling very well.
Matt Murray and Jeremy Turek grafted hard for a partnership of 46, with Turek looking to cut at any opportunity, and Murray resolute in defence. Murray eventually fell for 14, inside edging an inswinger from Mark Landau. Salador offered excellent support to Turek before Salador was smartly stumped by Russ Corin for 32.
Michael Klinger then weighed in with two wickets in two balls, clean bowling first Myers for 0 and then Nigel Katspeh for 0. Duddridge battled for 10 before chipping a Marks delivery to Schurder in the gulley, before Vallerius added some late impetus to take the Chigwell score to to 185, with Turek carrying his bat for 74 not out.
MAL opened up after tea with Landau and Gav Lebens. Gav was aggressive, striking the first three balls he faced for boundaries, before nicking Alex Katseph behind for 12.
Yoav Lebens joined Landau, and with Landau looking to be aggressive, the pair put on 66 in just over six overs. Salador got one to stop on Lebens who was caught at mid-on for 17.
That would be the last success for Chigwell, as Landau and Corin were clinical, Landau racing to his 50 in 37 balls. Corin took the opportunity to shake off some of the winter's rust, becoming more fluent as his innings went on, and Landau was cracking anything vaguely off line or length away.
At drinks after 20 overs the score was 158-2, with Landau unbeaten on 90. He duly completed his second century of the season, finishing 104 not out from just 67 balls, with 18 boundaries, and Corin finished unbeaten on 31 from 39 balls.
MAL progress to face Southgate in the semi-final on the June 26.
