Lions remain undefeated as T20 tournament reaches final stages

Lions Lod remain undefeated in the Division 1 T20 tournament after a four wicket win over Sri Lanka Tel Aviv in Lod on Saturday. With the remaining matches in the competition to be played over the the next two weeks, the race for a top two finish and a spot in the final remains wide open. Lions have the toughest run in with remaining fixtures against Sri Lanka Jerusalem and Ra'anana, both chasing a final spot themselves, whilst Young Ashdod, who easily defeated city rivals Ashdod A by 7 wickets in Ashdod on Saturday, still have an outside chance of a finals appearance, providing they win their remaining fixtures against the Sri Lankan teams, and depending how other results play out.

Chasing 138 to win against Sri Lanka Tel Aviv, Lions recovered from a shaky start, losing three quick wickets, after Shailesh Bangerra (34) put the innings back on track, before the Massil brothers, David (28*) and Gershon (25*) finished things off with seven balls remaining. Raymond Aston (86) showed his class as Young Ashdod needed just 14 overs to reach the 141 target posted by Ashdod A, who remain without a win. Neve Yonatan were in the same position ahead of their game, the afternoon start, with Lod Rangers in Ashdod on Saturday. Yaniv Razpurker (48) led his team to a total of 140, with Raymond Talkar (three for 11) and Herschel Gutman (three for 18) impressing with the ball. Despite being given a blistering start by big-hitting Netanel Borgorkar (41), Rangers succumbed to the left arm spin of Sagi Razpurker (three for 26) and were all out for 130.

In two Division 2 league games played over the weekend, both Kiryat Gat and Lions Be'er Sheva maintained their title aspirations with victories over Eilat and Petah Tikva respectively.

In league action from last weekend, Lions Lod delt defending champions Ra'anana their second defeat of the season in a high quality game played in Lod on Friday. The match, played in intense heat, featured two outstanding individual performances; first Danny Hotz (117) extended his excellent run of form, combining with Josh Evans (86), who found some form of his own, to add 182 for the 4th wicket, taking their score to 254 for 4 before a declaration after 37 overs. Lions, who began their innings positively but were in trouble at 116 for six, needed something special to reach their target and it was provided by Eshkol Solomon. The Israel international scored 108, and with Isaac Massil, despite an injured knee calmly contributing an undefeated 34 batting at number eight, Lod recorded a huge win, comfortably enough in the end with three wickets and over five overs in hand.

Young Ashdod do sit top of the table almost half way through the season after a 33-run win over Neve Yonatan in Ashdod last Saturday, whilst in a match played in Lod, Sri Lanka Jerusalem left it late but eventually secured victory over Lod Rangers; fighting back from 18 for four after a superb new-ball bowling by Raymond Talkar and Eliezer Samson to post 192. Rangers' chase could not have got off to a worst start with the impressive left arm seamer Gayan Gamage picking up a wicket in the very first over, and although Rangers recovered to a position from where they needed 115 to win with 20 overs and eight wickets in hand, five wickets tumbled in quick succession ending their hopes of victory, although almost managed to hold on for a draw before losing their final wicket with just eight balls left in the match, losing by 60 runs.