Lions too strong for Ashdod A, Neve Yonatan move top and strong finish for Rishon

Defending league champions Lions Lod recorded another comprehensive victory over the weekend, easily defeating Ashdod A by 7 wickets. Joel Reuben (43) was the only batsman to offer any resistance to the accuracy of the Lod attack, as Ashdod were dismissed for just 117. David Massil (3/33) got the early breakthroughs, with the medium pace of Benny David (3 for 24) wrapping up the tail. In reply, Shalom Rubin (0) fell early, Yefet Nagavkar and David Massil both fell in the twenties, but Shai Bangerra (25*) and Anim Solomon (32*) steered Lod to their target in just 18 overs.

Lod, penalized 10 points for registration irregularities earlier in the season, need to win both their remaining games and hope that Young Ashdod lose both their two matches in order to retain their league title.

In Division 2, Neve Yonatan beat a weakened Negev Academy team by 164 runs in Ashdod. Yaniv Razpurker top scored with 54 for the hosts, who totaled 224 for 8 in their 40 overs. In reply, Negev were all out for 60. Aby Daniels took 4 for 17. The win moved Neve Yonatan, who have completed all their matches, to the top of the Division 2 standings on 24 points, with a superior run rate to Ramle. However both Ramle and Lod have games in hand meaning the league is still wide open.

Rishon L'Zion completed their maiden season in the domestic league on a positive note, defeating Ra'anana 2 by 6 wickets in a Division 3 fixture at Hadar Yosef on Friday. Gabi Schachat scored a classy 40 for Ra'anana, but their total of 126 was always going to be too few. Rishon captain Yonni Sidelsky, the driving force behind the creation of the new team, picked up 4 wickets. Although Rishon did lose early wickets, Sammy Benjamin once again performed for his team, contributing an undefeated half century as Rishon won with ease.