North win 'Test Match' by 10 wickets

The annual North v South U19 2-day match, which has ended in a draw on both previous occasions, finally produced a result at Hadar Yosef today, as the Southern batsmen collapsed to 61 all out in their second innings, leaving the North to score just 35 for victory, which they did without loss.

With both teams, and in particular the South, weakened by the unavailabilty of numerous key players, the first day was dominated by the bowlers, despite a pitch with no bounce. Having won the toss and elected to bat, the South were all out for just 88. North captain Gabi Schachat picked up four wickets for just 10 runs, including the key wicket of Safania Nagavkar (16). Eyal Matz scored 24 in the Northern reply, but it was only some aggressive batting from Akiva Lieberman (28) that allowed the North to take a first innings lead, as they were dismissed for 115.

If the first day was evenly balanced, day two belonged entirely to the North. Schachat was again the destroyer, taking three wickets in his first spell, and another in his second, to finish with outstanding match figures of eight for 21. Itamar Kehimkar and Nir Dikorkar both showed character, but their efforts were not enough to set the North any reasonable target. Reuven Bergman found the boundary at ease as he raced to 23 not out, and the North secured an easy victory.