Ashdod through to final; Ra'anana book semi with Lod

Last season Cup runners up Diamonds were no match for an Ashdod team who have saved their best form for the end of the season. Chasing 242 to win, Diamonds were dismissed for 180 in the first of the semi finals. In the last of the quarter finals, Ra'anana outplayed Be'er Sheva in every department to win by 6 wickets and set up a semi final with Lod this Friday.

A stand of 79 between Hillel Awasker (23) and Danny Malyanker (junior) for the second wicket laid the foundation for Ashdod, with Malyanker and his new partner Danny Malyanker (senior) adding a further 62 for the 3rd wicket. Although both Malyankars (junior 69 and senior 32) were out in quick succession, Menashe Wadhawker (39) maintained the momentum of the innings and steered Ashdod to their total of 241. Diamonds hardly helped their own cause, dishing up no less than 39 wides.

Harsh Jogani (40) led the Diamonds reply, but his wicket was the catalyst for a middle order collapse which saw Diamonds slump from 73 for 2 to 95 for 6. The lower order tried their best to salvage the situation, but the task was beyond them and they were all out for 180.

Apart from two moments of joy against Young Ashdod this season, Be'er Sheva have been out of their depth in Division 1, and once again were no match for their opponents at Hadar Yosef on Friday. Asked to bat first, only Naor Gudker (34) offered any resistance as the visitors were all out for 142. Danny Hotz and David Silver put on 77 for the second wicket, and although Hotz (34) was bowled by one that kept awfully low, by then the game was effectively over. Silver (54) was out with a handful of runs still wanted, scored within a couple of balls of his departure.