Cricket: Israel falls to Denmark in Euro opener

Denmark, one of the fancied teams in the 12-nation tournament, reached its target with five overs in hand having restricted Israel to 94 for nine.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Israel made a disappointing start to its ICC Europe Division 1 T20 campaign, losing by eight wickets to Denmark at Farmers Field in Jersey, England.
Denmark, one of the fancied teams in the 12-nation tournament, reached its target with five overs in hand having restricted Israel to 94 for nine.
Asked to bat first, Israel found itself in early trouble, reduced to three for two.
Yefet Nagavkar’s return to the national team after a long absence didn’t last too long, edging behind for just one in the first over.
Danny Hotz, who has been in a rich vain of form in domestic cricket, was bowled for just a single as well. Daniel Hyman and Eshkol Solomon managed somewhat of a recovery, taking the score on to 39 before Solomon was dismissed for 18.
His departure triggered a spectacular collapse as a further four wickets tumbled for the addition of just five runs; youngster Josh Evans and captain Herschel Gutman for ducks, Itamar Kehimkar for two and Hyman for 19.
The lower order did show some fight, with Shailesh Bangerra (11) and Yaniv Razpurker adding 33 for the eighth wicket, Razpurker eventually going on to top score with 26 but 94 was never going to challenge a Danish team far higher up in the world rankings.