Israel complete European Champs with first win over Germany

The Israel national squad returned home from Guernsey this evening, having completed their participation at the ICC Europe Division 2 Championships with a 56-run win over Germany in their final game on Monday. Despite the win, Israel finished the 6-team event in 5th place, level on points with Norway but with an inferior run rate.

Batting first, Israel lost Daniel Hyman (7) early, before the German left arm swing bowler picked up three quick wickets, Raymond Aston (2) clean bowled, Shailesh Bangerra (18) leg before and form batsman Eshkol Solomon (15) also trapped in front, to leave Israel 51 for 4. Gabi Schachat (22) shared a 66-run 5th wicket partnership with skipper Herschel Gutman, before hitting a long hop straight down the throat of the fielder on the midwicket boundary. Gutman was then joined by Josh Evans, who shone in his middle order role after struggling as an opener through the week. Evans pushed the ball around superbly before being run out for a 38-ball 29 as Israel looked to force the pace in the closing overs. Gutman fell for an excellent 73, two short of passing his highest score for the national team, and handy contributions from the tail took the Israel total to a defendable 222.

Both David Massil and Raymond Talkar were once again bang on target with the new ball, bowling an impeccable line and length, and with Massil picking up two wickets and Talkar one, Germany were reduced to nine for three. Although they did manage a recovery, with the 4th wicket pair adding 103, it was Gutman who killed off any hopes they may have had of reaching their target, taking 4 for 33 to complete a brilliant individual performance. Evans, impressive with his leg spinners all week, took two for 33 and fittingly Aston, vice captain and such a positive influence on the younger players, picked up the final wicket.

Whilst Israel completed the tournament with their heads held high, the squad was definitely left thinking what might have been. A lower order collapse resulted in a 3-run loss to Norway in the opening game with the match seemingly in the bag, whilst the defeat against France was disappointing in that Israel were below their best in what was such an important game. Top of the lists of positives for the week were undoubtedly the batting of Solomon, third highest run scorer in the tournament with 232 runs at an average of 47, and the bowling of Evans, who took nine wickets at an average of 18, bowling 42 overs without conceding an extra. Gutman led his team well although disappointingly only really contributed with bat and ball in the final game, whilst youngsters Gabi Schachat and Yaniv Razpurker never really kicked on from their impressive performances against Norway. Raymond Talkar enjoyed a good debut tour, whilst David Massil was as usual very economical with the ball. Daniel Hyman impressed with a half century against France, finding his feet at international level after a shaky start.