Finals Day of the Negev School League a sizzling success

The finals of the inaugural U13 Inter School League were played out in the perfect, pastoral setting of the Neot Lon Sports Complex in Beer Sheva earlier this month. Six teams representing four Junior Schools (Maanit, Afik, Lahavim and Dimona) played a total of 15 20-over matches throughout the summer holidays in a round-robin format. Games started at 9.00 in order to minimise exposure to the seering heat of the Negev Desert.

Maanit School, where cricket is taught from 3rd grade, is the power-house of boys cricket in the South, and so it came as no surprise to find two teams from Maanit in the final. Unexpected, however, was the Maanit 4th graders' win over their 6th grade school mates in the preliminary rounds which clinched them a place in the final.

The final turned out to be a slightly one -sided affair, with Maanit 5 making 144 (Raz Krispin, a name to remember scored 57 not out) and Maanit 4 replied with just 103. But this by no means dampened either the carnival atmosphere or the spirits of the parents who expressed amazement at the standard of cricket shown by their boys

In the play-off for 3rd place, Afik prevented a Maanit clean sweep, despite an inspired effort by Maanit 6's Ronny Vituli, who hit 5 consequetive sixes.

Man of the Tornament went to Yonatan Willanchik of Afik for his allround excellence and attitude. Natty Asif of Maanit 5 won the Batting Award with an average of 45, and Guy Admon took the Best Bowler trophy with his 12 wickets (twice as many as any other bowler). The prizes were handed out by Mr.Naor Gudker, CEO of the ICA, and Mr. Sammy Bamnolkar of Israel's body of Umpires. Both expresed pride in the way the matches were played and excitement at the depth of understanding and potential displayed by boys of such a tender age.

On the back of such a successful regional tournament, the ICA U14 League got underway during the Succot holiday with the aim of gradually easing promising players into hard-ball cricket. Four teams have been chosen to meet each other in a series of 20-over matches during the course of the coming school year.