Victory for Ashdod A, centuries for Bergman and Razpurker

Ashdod A moved top of the Division 1 table, beating Tel Aviv by 56 runs in Hadar Yosef in the only Division 1 fixture of the weekend. In Division 2, Lod defeated Dimona A, Neve Yonatan were too strong for the Negev Academy and a Reuven Bergman century took Ra'anana to a massive win over Rishon L'Zion.

Tel Aviv have only themselves to blame for their 56-run loss to Ashdod. A shocking display of fielding (13 dropped catches bringing their season tally to 23) hardly helped their cause.

Batting first after winning the toss, Ashdod A rode their luck against a bowling attack lacking fire and brimstone coupled with pathetic fielding. The Ashdod opening batsmen Joel Rueben (70) and Anis Zaveri (28), together with with 38 runs in extras, put on 135 for the first wicket. Gershon Waskar (25) and Menashe Wadawkar (40) threatened to take the score to embarressing proportions until Stanley Perlman came toTel Aviv's rescue.

Coming on to bowl fourth change he had 3 catches dropped off his bowling before he took his first wicket and then proceded to take 4 more in 4 overs ending up with 5 for 38 in 8 overs.

Chasing 256 runs Tel Aviv needed a fast start, which they didn't achieve. Opening batsmen Dovi Myers (79) and Sheilish Bothra (28) crawled to 37 in the first 10 overs and by the time the first wicket fell at 90, 22 overs had been consumed (Ashdod were 140 at the same junction). Perlman (20) and Myers then added 35 in 4 overs and besides for Omer Penkar (33) who smashed 3 sixes the rest of the TA batsmen batted very much like their fielding.

They were all out for 199 with Michael Moses taking 3 for 55 as Ashdod cruised home to a comfortable victory.

In a match played on Friday at Hadar Yosef, 17-year old Reuven Bergman hit his first century (111), once again showing his natural talent and excellent timing. Rafi Schachat (36) and Gabi Schachat (55) were also amongst the runs, and although Sammy Benjamin (3 for 35) bowled well towards the end of the innings as Ra'anana lost their way some what, a score of 288 was always going to be far too many for a very weak Rishon team. They could only manage 72 in reply, and will need to improve drastically if they are going to avoid defeats of similiar proprtions through the season.

Yossi Satamkar was once again amongst the wickets for Lod, taking 4 for 40 to help restrict Eilat to 186 for 7 in their 40 overs. Eli Divekar (36) and David Malekar (33*) scored runs for Eilat. Lod then knocked off their target for the loss of just four wickets with more than three overs to spare.

Shamu Razpurker (100) and Aby Daniels (98) had little trouble taking on the Negev Academy bowlers in Ashdod on Saturday, with Neve Yonatan amassing 325 for 8 in their 40 overs. The Academy youngsters were never in the game, slumping to 144 all out with Daniels (3 for 26) and Benzie Kehimkar (3 for 4) the main destroyers.