North hold on for Test draw; U13's start preparations with narrow win

In the second ever 2-day U17 "test match", played this week at Hadar Yosef, the South X1, who fought back from a disastrous first day, had their Northern rivals clinging on for a draw at the close of play, after staging a courageous second day fight back. Starting day two nine 12 runs in arrears and with only 7 wickets standing, predictions were for a quick collapse and an early finish. But such is the nature of the game, particularly the longer version, that predictions are hardly ever accurate, and things aren't over until "the fat lady sings", or, when Australia have their backs against the wall, until "the fat boy spins".

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Michael Muchie and Shmuel Moses gave the South a solid enough start. The two added 67 for the first wicket, until Moses was bowled by Eyal Matz for 26. The wicket triggered a spectacular collapse, as the remaining 9 wickets tumbled for the addition of a further 19 runs. Eyal Matz claimed the first two, but then his older brother Gal took over, taking 4 wickets for 1 run in his second spell of 2.3 overs. Yehuda Gordon also bowled well, finishing with 3 for 5.

Having performed so well with the ball, the North X1 would have wanted to secure their domination with a strong batting display. However not even a superb knock of 63 not out from Gal Matz was enough, as all the others failed and the team was dismissed for 111. Leg break bowler Ronen Waskar took 4 for 33, and medium pacer Adiel Changuakar 3 for 24.

With the match evenly poised, the final hours play on day one would be instrumental in deciding who would start the second day in a better position. North quick bowler Yaniv Raspurker, who struggled in the first innings, produced a superb delivery to bowl Muchie for 1, and when Reuven Bergman got Changuakar caught behind for a duck, the South were 10 for 2. Waskar and Artur Arutinyan, managed to survive to the close of play, and resumed on day two again displaying stubborn resistance. It took a good catch from Raspurker to remove Waskar (18) off the bowling of Gordon, Eyal Matz bowled Moses (9) for the second time in the match, Bergman sneaked through the defences of Oren Chinchulkar (3), and Arutinyan fell to Raspurker for a well played 26. At 71 for 6, the North may have had their opponents on the ropes, but the knock out bunch had yet to be delivered. With a combination of solid defence and positive attacking play, Maor Shmuel began the fight back for his team. He found a partner in Solomon Varsulkar, and the two frustrated the Northern bowlers for over two hours. By the time Shmuel was bowled by Ilan Menashe for 58, the two had added 100 for the 7th wicket and changed the game completely. Varsulkar fell for an elegant 36, and although the final few wickets fell quickly, the South had posted 193 and set a target of 168 runs for the North to get to win the game, with approximately two and a half hours remaining in the game.

With one of three results still possible, the North began the second innings in positive fashion. Eyal Matz and Alex Ozer added 24 for the first wicket before Matz was run out attempting a second run with his score on 14. Ozer played a loose shot and was caught for 10, but Gal Matz and Gordon got the innings back on track. Disaster was soon to strike however when Gal Matz (21) was run out after a mix up with his partner. With the required run rate climbing all the time, any hopes the North may still have envisioned of winning disappeared when Waskar bowled Gordon for 17. Raspurker wasn't about to surrender meekly, and continued to play positively until he too was run out for 41. With 4 wickets still standing, over 60 runs still needed for victory, and approximately 5 overs left in the day, the South began attacking furiously, eagerly seeking the last few wickets. Reuven Bergman and Gabi Schachat, forced to use all their concentration and defensive skills, held out despite the pressure imposed on them and the fading light. When stumps were drawn the score was 126 for 6, with both sides accepting of the draw.

Schachat and Penkar star in U13's win

The older youth may have grabbed all the headlines over the last few weeks following the U15 success in France, but the U13 cricketers will now have their chance in the limelight as preparations begin for the U13 European Championships next summer. Following a training camp with Roland Lefebvre attended by 24 hopeful youngsters on Monday, a squad of 12 was selected to play a Negev X1 in Dimona on Thursday. The team performed very well, with Levy Penkar and Gabi Schachat excelling. Chasing 130 runs to win after U15 player Safania Naguakar had scored 51 not out for the Negev X1, Penkar and Schachat came together early on after two quick wickets had fallen, and both played with skill and maturity in building a superb partnership. With 38 runs wanted for victory off 36 balls, Penkar was bowled for 41, but Schachat (44 not out) simply grew in confidence, eventually hitting the winning runs with 5 balls remaining, to the delight of his teammates.