Lod reign supreme as Tel Aviv are relegated; Neve Yonatan enhance chance for promotion

Two things were confirmed on Saturday at Hadar Yosef - firstly that Lions Lod are far and away the best team in Israeli domestic cricket and secondly that Tel Aviv will be playing Division 1 cricket next season. The came into the game knowing that only a win would save them from relegation, and left having lost by a huge 205 runs. Neve Yonatan kept alive their hopes of promotion to the Premier League with a straight forward 7 wicket win over Dimona C, whilst Lod scored another simple victory, this time by 10 wickets, over Kiryat Gat in Division 2.

Having won the toss, Lions Lod had no hesitation in deciding to bat against Tel Aviv. Whilst Anim Solomon's 56 was the highest score of the innings, useful contributions all the way down the order took them to 255 for 9 in their 45 overs. Shalom Rubin scored 44, David Massil 32 and Mahendra Jaiswar 31. For Tel Aviv, Paul Thomas took 3 wickets but at a cost of 63 runs.

The Tel Aviv scorecard makes for pitiful reading. Lod only required three bowlers to skittle them out for 50, with only Steve Leigh (23) and Stanley Perlman (15) managing to reach double figures. David Massil (3 for 27), Isaac Massil (2 for 17) and Janeth Silva (4 for 5) did the damage as Lod ensured an early finish.

The race for promotion from Division 1 is still wide open as Neve Yonatan recorded their sixth win of the season, beating Dimona C in Dimona. The home side posted a useful score of 244, with Sunny Ashtamkar top scoring with 61. But it proved to be far from enough, as veterans Aby Daniels (90 not out) and Benzie Kahemkar (56 not out) cruised to victory.

Lod have swept all before them in Division 2, and they had another easy outing on Saturday. Kiryat Gat could score just 99 having elected to bat, with spinner Yaakov Levy bowling a superb spell to grab 5 for 20. Wicketkeeper Samir Bogarkar had an excellent performance behind the stumps, taking two catches and two stumpings. Hannan Sogadson and Abraham Penkar each finished undefeated on 43 as Lod wrapped up the easiest of wins.