Divison 1 leaders stunned by Sri Lanka Tel Aviv; Lions BS stride into Division 2 T20 final

The Division 1 league remains wide open after runaway leaders Young Ashdod were thumped by Sri Lanka Tel Aviv on Ashdod on Saturday, with both Neve Yonatan and Ra'anana winning over the weekend to close the gap and the top of the league. Lions Be'er Sheva meanwhile booked their place in the Division 2 T20 final, winning all four of their Southern group matches. They will face Central group winners Kiryat Gat this weekend.

In a low scoring Division 1 game played Friday at Hadar Yosef, left arm quick bowler Gerrit Grundling marked his return from injury with five for 43 as Ra'anana dismissed Sri Lanka Jerusalem for just 127. Gayan Gamage (three for 22) bowled a superb opening spell for the Lankans, picking up two wickets as Ra'anana were reduced to 16 for three in reply, but Dovi Myers (28) and Josh Evans (38*) stabilized the innings, before Evans and Adrian Vard (29*) ensured a comfortable enough win in the end.

Neve Yonatan moved up to second spot on the standings after a narrow, and very controversial 30-run win over Lod Rangers in Lod on Saturday. Having bowled Neve Yonatan out for 189, 10-man Rangers were left trying to survive for a draw after being reduced to 159 for 8. With five balls remaining in the innings, the final wicket was taken in the most unsporting of fashion - the bowler running out the non-striker who had carelessly left his crease before the ball had been delivered.

The biggest surprise of the weekend came in Ashdod on Saturday where run-away league leaders Young Ashdod came unstuck for the first time this season, thumped by Sri Lanka Tel Aviv by the massive margin of 232 runs. Batting first, Srinath (91) and Chamara (62) top scored as the visitors piled up 299, to which Young Ashdod replied with just 67, Srinath starring again taking three for 18.

In Division 2 Southern group T20 action, Dimona C defetaed Bet Shemesh in Dimona on Friday, chasing down their target of 116 for the loss of four wickets with three overs in hand. In Saturday action in Be'er Sheva, Nir Dokarkar, fresh from his innings of 68 for Israel U19 against Spain last week, scored his second consecutive T20 century, a huge 123* as Dimona A (237 for two) defeated Be'er Sheva by 78 runs. The result did not have any bearing on the standings however, as Lions Be'er Sheva defeated Dimona C by 18 runs to ensure they topped the group and will contest the final. Batting first, Sunny Ashtamkar top scored with 57 in Lions' innings of 140 for 5, to which Dimona replied with 122 for seven.