Lions Lod, Tel Aviv easy victors; plenty of excitement in Division 2

Yefet Nagavkar scored 49 not out, and Mahendra Jaiswar 35 as Lions Lod easily overcame the challenge from Young Ashdod in Division 1, recording a 9-wicket win. Young Ashdod collapsed to 92 all out, as Nagavkar (3 for 14) and Anim Solomon (3 for 27) both got amongst the wickets on the Hadar Yosef pitch. Only Danny Malyankar, who scored an aggressive 38 provided any resistance for the visitors.

Tel Aviv are quickly becoming the team to beat in Division 2, after defeating Neve Yonatan by 26-runs in Ashdod on Friday. Tel Aviv did not have things all their own way having won the toss and elected to bat, and at 80 for 7, when Stanley Perlman was run out for 28, Neve Yonatan had the upper hand. However, Amir Mizroch, playing his first game of the season, ensured Tel Aviv would post a respectable score, reaching 49 not out, leading Tel Aviv to 162 for 9 in their allotted 40 overs.

The Tel Aviv opening bowlers, brothers Brett and Darren Kree, were quickly amongst the wickets as Shai Shir (1) and Benzie Kehimkar (6) both had their stumps disturbed. Israel U17 player Yaniv Razpurker received his share of hostile bowling, but survived the onslaught together with the experienced Abe Daniels. However when Daniels was bowled by Perlman for 15, all resistance crumbled. Razpurker fell to Darren Kree for 33, and Perlman picked up a further three wickets to finish with 4 for 22, as Neve Yonatan were dismissed for 136.

In Division 2, Kiryat Gat defeated Petah Tikva by 5 wickets in a close encounter played in Ashdod. Ezekiel Penkar scored 61 for Petah Tikva, but his teammates failed to give him much support and were all out for 166. Kiryat Gat reached their target in the 37th over.

The Negev Academy recorded a second straight win as they successfully chased 239 to defeat the Diamonds by 5 wickets in Dimona. George Sheader (53) and Solomon Varsulkar (45) were involved in a century partnership for the 2nd wicket, before Oren Chinchulkar (51) and Shai Hayun (34) ensured the victory. Despite the loss, the Diamonds would have been satisfied with their batting effort in the morning, with Horsh (73) and Raju Shah (67) both showing good form.

Lions Be'er Sheva returned to winning ways with a tense 2-wicket win over Dimona A in Be'er Sheva. Not even a good all round performance from Sanjay Gupta, who showed true class in scoring 61 and then taking three wickets, could prevent his team from losing. Dimona A could not defend their total of 173, as Moshe Saul (42) and Norman Sankar (30) contributed for the hosts, who despite the loss of late wickets, hung on for the win.