Eilat and Kiryat Gat upset to reach Cup quarters

The first round of ICA Cup action saw further upsets on the weekend, as Division 3 teams Eilat and Kiryat Gat defeated Division 2 clubs Be'er Sheva A and Lions Be'er Sheva respectively. Last weekend Division 1 team Young Ashdod were ousted by Division 2 Lod. The Cup quarterfinals, to be played in late October, feauture Ramle v Ra'anana, Eilat host Ashdod A, Lod play Neve Yonatan and Kiryat Gat are rewarded for their efforts with a tie against Lions Lod.

In a Division 1 game played Friday at Hadar Yosef, Isaac Samson scored 48 but his was the lone substantial innings as Ramle managed just 149 all out in reply to Ra'anana's 200. Asher Landes took 4 for 14 in his debut game. Having won the toss, Ra'anana were taken to the 200 mark by a quick 58 by form man Adrian Vard, after Rafi Zauer (41) and Gal Matz (22) had set the innings up with a 85-run stand for the 2nd wicket.

Eilat's magical debut season continued on Saturday, as they defeated Division 2 high flyers Be'er Sheva A by 58 runs in Dimona. Be;er Sheva A's top three batsmen contributed 0 between them, and although Naor Gudker scored 40, his effort was too little too late as Be'er Sheva A were dismissed for 137 in reply to Eilat's 195 for 5.

In other Cup action, Kiryat Gat beat Lions Be'er Sheva by 5 wickets, and Neve Yonatan thumped Dimona A by over 200 runs.