Action Cricket comes to Israel

The format, modeled on rules from Australia, South Africa, Britain, ensures that matches last no more than 90 minutes, everyone on each team has equal opportunity to bat and bowl.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Israeli cricket 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Israeli cricket 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Last week saw the launch of Israel’s first night Action Cricket league, with the first four matches providing enough competitiveness, entertainment and adrenaline to ensure that this format of the game will become a very successful commodity in Israel.
The format, which is modeled on the Action Cricket rules from Australia, South Africa and Britain, ensures that matches last no more than 90 minutes and that everyone on each team has equal opportunity to bat and bowl: A perfect scenario for the busy life we all lead in Israel.
“It is a fantastic format and it caters to those in Israel who are new to the game and those with a passion for cricket, but who don’t have enough hours in the week to commit to a full day out on the field,” said Herschel Gutman, Israel’s National Cricket Development Officer.
“We have over 200 players who have signed up for the first season, of which over 130 are completely new to structured cricket in Israel. So we are all very pleased with growth shown.”
The current venue, located in Modi’in, is a double basketball court with high fencing and floodlights. The Modi’in Matnas have embraced cricket in the town and have given the league an ideal venue.
“The first four matches were a great success,” Gutman said. “The reviews from the players were very positive and we are looking at a variety of different venues in various towns for the second season.”
In addition, for the first time in Israel cricket, every participating team has a sponsor.
The teams have been divided into two leagues, with the experienced teams playing in the Cup league, and the teams new to structured cricket in Israel comprising the Plate league.
The first game in the Cup competition saw Cup favorites HOT Lions Modi’in beat inHasharon.co.il 95-20. The match produced some high quality and exciting cricket, but at the end the experience of HOT Lions Modi’in prevailed.
CS 8 Ra’anana beat Lod Indians in a highly entertaining and high-scoring match. Lod Indians failed in their pursuit of 118, falling 20 runs short.
But the game that has had everybody talking all week was the epic duel between Telalivit and Sri Lanka Jerusalem. Telalivit posted 59 but some excellent bowling and fielding restricted Sri Lanka Jerusalem to needing nine off the final over.
With the last ball to be bowled, six runs were still required as the batsmen only managed four, leaving Telalivit victors by a single run.
In the Plate match, there was much excitement as all the players were involved in their first competitive cricket match in Israel. The Pommeranz Juice Good Old Boys who hail from Bet Shemesh beat local rivals KAT Israemploy Warriors 145 – 27.
“The crowds have enjoyed some excellent family entertainment and the players have enjoyed playing in front of a large crowd,” Gutman said.
Two matches are scheduled to take place each Saturday with the first game starting at 6 p.m.Thursday’s matches begin at 7 p.m.
For more information regarding the Action Cricket league, contact herschelgutman@gmail.com