Lions beat Ra'anana in dramatic finish

Lions Lod returned to winning ways, beating Ra'anana by 1-wicket in a titanic match played in Hadar Yosef on Friday. The game was full of drama and excitement, ebbed and flowed both ways, until eventually being decided in the final over. The match set the tone for a dramatic weekend of matches, with Ashdod A beating Be'er Sheva A by 2 wickets and Negev Academy 2 pulled off an amazing victory, picking up 5 late wickets to win by 2 runs.

Despite losing a wicket in the very first over, Dani Hotz and Solly Bergman built a steady platform for Ra'anana, after they had won the toss and decided to bat. Although Hotz was run out for 20 and Rafi Zauer (7) was leg before to Anim Solomon soon after, Bergman continued to keep the momentum going, hitting three sixes before eventually being bowled by David Massil for a very well played 66. The wicket triggered a mini-collapse as Massil tore through the middle order, finishing with 5 for 24. Adrian Vard managed to survive Massil's attack, eventually falling for 48, but not before having helped Ra'anana reach 189.

Lions Lod were in early trouble at 35 for 4, with Des Moss and Gal Matz taking two wickets each with the new ball. Eshkol Solomon and David Massil managed to rebuild the innings, before Massil (20) was out to a brilliant catch by Adrian Vard at mid wicket. Gershon Massil was run out shortly afterwards, and with six wickets down Lions looked to be heading to their second consecutive defeat. However with Solomon showing great form ahead of the Maccabiah in two weeks time, and young Shailesh Bangerra also showing plenty of talent with the bat after an excellent performance behind the stumps, Lions fortunes began to revive. Although Solomon (62) was eventually caught on the cover boundary having played a gem of an innings, Bangerra was joined by Akhil Rajput who together continued to edge Lions Lod closer and closer to victory. At 180 for 7 the game looked all but over, before Bangerra (30) was very unluckily run out at the non-strikers end. Yehuda Gordon struck a few balls later when Janeth Silva was bowled for a duck, and suddenly Lions were nine wickets down still requiring 10 runs to win. Nissim Talkar survived three consecutive leg before appeals off Gordon, and the following over saw an appeal for a run out also turned down, and Lions went into the final over needing 6 runs. Rajput, who had showed stubborn defence all through his innings, suddenly opened up, skying the second ball of the over just over mid off for two runs, before hitting the third ball over cover for a boundary, securing a dramatic win for Lions.

Danny Malyankar (70) and Joel Rubin (66) gave Ashdod the perfect start to their run chase, before Be'er Sheva brought themselves back into the match as the Ashdod middle order fell apart. After seemingly coasting to victory, Ashdod were eventually lucky to hold on to win by 2 wickets.

Earlier, Be'er Sheva, having elected to bat first, reached 205 for 7 in their 40 overs. Mishra Herendar top scored with 49, with opening batsman Joel Chirakar contributing 29. Malyankar took 4 for 50.

Negev Academy 2 continued their excellent season, although they were made to work very hard for their 2-run victory over Dimona A in Dimona. Safania Naguakar scored a magnificent 77 and Shai Divekar made 47 as the Academy reached 216 for 6. Dimona were heading for victory, requiring under 30 runs with 5 wickets in hand, before beginning to fall like dominoes. Once Yona Awaskar (40 and Rafi Varsulkar (57) were out, Danny Divekar (4), Sharon Naguakar (3), Nissim Dokarkar (0) and Shimon Samuel (0) were all dismissed by 13 year old Nir Dikorkar, who finished with the superb figures of 5 for 23.