Negev Academy and Kiryat Gat sneak dramatic wins in Division 2

Whilst the Ra'anana 1 and Young Ashdod recorded easy victories in Division 1, there was plenty of action in Division 2, where Ra'anana 2 defeated Diamonds by 2 wickets, Kiryat Gat sneaked a 1-wicket win over Lions Be'er Sheva and the Negev Academy beat Dimona A by just 1-run.

Friday's Division 1 game between Tel Aviv and Ra'anana 1 was a one-sided contest. Steve Leigh, benefiting from a Ra'anana team who would have struggled to have caught a cold in a Siberian winter, played some powerful strokes and showed plenty of spirit, in contributing 75 out of a Tel Aviv total of 122 after they were put into bat. In reply, Reuven Bergman (61*) and Rafi Zauer (55*) both scored half centuries as Ra'anana raced to a 10-wicket win.

Young Ashdod won their second straight contest, defeating Ashdod A by 27 runs in the Ashdod derby. Ramli followed up his century last weekend with 46, top score in a total of 207. Danny Malyankar took 5 for 42 and Menashe Wadhawker 3 for 26 for Ashdod A, who were all out for 180 in reply. Manjula took 4 for 37 for Young Ashdod.

Division 2 is very conjested mid-table, as Ra'anana 2 scored somewhat of a surprise win over Diamonds at Hadar Yosef on Friday, and Kiryat Gat and Negev Academy won their first games of the season in Saturday's fixtures.

Tight bowling restricted Diamonds to 88 for 1 after 20 overs, but although from there Diamonds stepped in up a notch, in absolutely perfect batting conditions 225 was just a reasonable score. Anis Zaveri top scored with 68. Ra'anana's chase didn't start well with two wickets falling early, but Akiva Lieberman joined Anthony Harris at the wicket and the two proceeded to ressurect the innings. Lierberman's batting was immaculate with his perfectly timed drives racing to the boundary. Harris was a bit edgy and at times looked like a cat on a hot tin roof but still managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over. With 20 overs left, Ra'anana needed another 108 with 8 wickets in hand. After the drinks break the pair took it up a gear spanking 30 off the next three overs to swing the game well in Ra'anana's favor. However Lieberman's dismissal for a polished 52 sparked a mini-collapse with four wickets falling for not many runs, including Harris (48). However Diamonds hopes of victory were dashed by a typical David Wiseman (28) late order cameo to secure a two wicket win for Ra'anana.

In Dimona, Israel U17 hopefuls Nir Dikorkar (27) and Nadav Razpurker (28) were the top scorers as Negev Academy managed 208 against Dimona A, whose attack was led by wicket taking machine, left arm spinner Solomon Varsulkar (six for 33). Sagi Razpurker (4 for 45) and Nir Dikorkar (4 for 41) then led a spirited Academy attack, well captained by Matan Razpurker, to hold on for a nail-biting 1 run win in a game the youngsters in particular will remember for a very long time.

Vistors Kiryat Gat successfully chased the 230 required to win against Lions Be'er Sheva, winning with just 1 wicket and two balls to spare.