Tel Aviv, Lions BS open Div 2 Round 2 with wins; Rangers draw despite Gutman ton

The Division 2 second round of matches got underway over the weekend with Tel Aviv and Lions Be'er Sheva both boosting their title chances with wins over Ra'anana 2 and Kiryat Gat respectively. Eilat easily defeated Petah Tikva by nine wickets in the bottom half of the Division 2 second round groups, whilst in Division 1, Ra'anana 1 were held to a draw by Neve Yonatan and in a bottom of the table clash Lod Rangers drew with Ashdod A.

Asked to bat first in Ashdod on Friday, Ra'anana suffered a middle order collapse but still managed a useful total of 239 with Daniel Hyman (60) making an invaluable contribution. Neve Yonatan went out in pursuit of their target positvely. A 63-run fifth wicket stand between the Razpurker cousins, Yaniv and Matan, left them well positioned to push for the win, however the departure of Yaniv (59) brought a flurry of wickets as Ra'anana fast bowlers Gabi Schachat (three for 28) and Huddy Lieberman (two for 38) combined to take four wickets for 22 runs. However the Neve Yonatan last pair survived a tough last couple of overs to ensure a draw for their team and leave Ra'anana agonisingly short of securing what would have been a vital win.

Saturday's Division 1 game saw Lod Rangers amass 273 for the loss of just one wicket against bottom of the table Ashdod A in Ashdod. Herschel Gutman (116*) and Netanel Borgarker (90*) piled on the runs enabling a declaration after 34 overs. The home side looked set for certain defeat as the top order fell relatively cheaply but stubborn resistance from Hillel Awasker (53*) ensured they hung on for a draw, finishing their 46 overs on 183 for eight.

Tel Aviv took close to maximum points with an impressive win over Ra'anana seconds at Hadar Yosef on Friday. A brave declaration after 35 overs with their score on 184 for nine gave Ra'anana plenty of time to reach their target, but besides for 65 by captain Anthony Harris, who had earlier taken four wickets, no other Ra'anana players could make significant contributions as they were dismissed for 143.

Lions Be'er Sheva effectively moved top of the Division 2 standings, by one point from Tel Aviv, with a win over Kiryat Gat in Be'er Sheva on Saturday. Leg spinner Ronen Waskar finished with the amazing figures of five for nine as Kiryat Gat were skittled for 61, which the home side knocked off for the loss of four wickets in just 11 overs.