Superb performance earns Israel thrilling win over Belgium

Anybody who witnessed the 1999 World Cup semi-final between Australia and South Africa in England would know what a tense, dramatic and nailbiting game cricket can be. Such a game was produced today by the Israeli and Belgian U13 teams at the European Championships being played in Grosetto, Italy, as Israel scored a 1-run win over their opponents. Belgium required 6 runs going into the last over, and three runs off the final ball to win, with 1 wicket in hand. The ball was played up to mid off, where Eyal Matz kept his head, showed tremendous maturity in running up to the wicket with ball in hand and completed the run out as the batsman attempted a second run.

In truth Israel should have had the game sewn up far more comfortably. Defending a small target of 68, a brilliant bowling display backed up by yet another faultless fielding performance, reduced the Belgians to 14 for 4 inside the first 5 overs. After 10 overs the score was 25 for 5 and after 15 only a further 7 runs had been added. With 20 required from the final 2 overs, Alex Ozer conceded 14 in the penultimate over, including 5 wides. But Levi Penkar kept his nerve in bowling the final over, which also featured a brilliant catch, taken, ironically enough, by Ozer, and Israel secured their second straight win of the tournament.

Whilst only left handed number three batsman Bar Ilya (14) reached double figures in Israel's innings, the bowlers were superb. Captain Reuven Bergman returned figures of 4 for 17 in 4 overs, Matz took 2 for 10 in his 4, whilst the slow bowlers, leg spinner Ronen Wasker and off break bowler Raz Ben Zakan, conceded just 13 runs between them in their combined 8 overs.

Speaking from Grosetto, coach Herschel Gutman could not hide his excitement. "What a match for us to win. The Belgians are a terrific bunch of guys and we feel for them losing such a close game, but it is such a pleasure seeing the excitement of our boys. I have not seen such scenes of celebration on a cricket field, truly unbeleivable. We have worked so hard preparing for this tournament, and it's very rewarding seeing that effort producing good results. The boys behaviour is exemplary, and just like last year's U15 team, the Israel team is the most popular amongst all the other teams."

In the day's other games, Italy (116) bounced back from their defeat to Israel on Sunday with a 31-run win over Gibraltar (75). Germany maintained their perfect record with another comprehensive win, this time over France. Batting first, France scored 60, which Germany reached in the 7th over having lost 2 wickets.