Pressure builds for Division 1 play-off places as season draws to close

With just three matches left in the first round of Division 1 league matches, the struggle for a spot in the top four remains as tight as ever after Lions Lod and Sri Lanka Tel Aviv both won on the weekend, defeating bottom teams Ashdod A and Lod Rangers respectively. In Division 2, both Kiryat Gat and Be'er Sheva won their first matches of the play-off stage, joining Lions Be'er Sheva and Tel Aviv in contention for the title.

Yefet Nagavkar (58) and Eshkol Solomon (54*) both scored half centuries as Lions Lod easily chased down a decent target of 190 set by Ashdod A in Ashdod on Saturday, winning by seven wickets inside 35 overs to give them a crucial additional 10 bonus points. Sri Lanka Tel Aviv were saved by 76* by Chamara, batting at number nine, which allowed them to declare on 251 for nine in 35 overs against Lod Rangers in Lod on Saturday. The hosts were then bundled out for 161 giving the Lankans maximum points.

Ra'anana 2 lost for the second straight week, this time a 72-run defeat to Kiryat Gat, having been set 202 to win. Mikki Cohen (35) top scored for Ra'anana.

Be'er Sheva easily chased down the 116 required to beat Lod in Be'er Sheva on Saturday. Shimshon Choor and Benny Gudker took three wickets each as Lod were dismissed cheaply, before Samson Ashtamkar (40) led the run chase giving the hosts victory by six wickets.