Cricket: Lions Lod to meet Ra'anana in final

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ra'anana easily defeated Neve Yonatan by eight wickets on Friday, and Lions Lod overcame a good challenge from Dimona C today, to set up a league final to be played in Ashdod on Friday. Winning the toss and batting first in Ashdod, Neve Yonatan was never able to score freely and, although Yefet Kemrelkar (43) and Shamu Razpurker (28) briefly threatened to build a partnership, their 45-run stand for the 5th wicket was too little too late. Shlomi Korman was the best of the Ra'anana bowlers taking 4 for 26 and Steven Shein took 3 for 40 as the hosts were dismissed for 155. Ra'anana's victory was set up by a 106-run opening stand by Rafi Zauer (49) and Shein (40), and although Aby Daniels (2 for 42) removed both openers, Danny Hotz (221⁄2) and Gerrit Grundling (191⁄2) made easy work of finishing off the job. The second semi-final, also played in Ashdod, saw Dimona C, the only team to have beaten Lions Lod this season, give the defending champions a good fight, but Lions were good enough to hold on for a 40-run win. Lions, with their array of internationals, including Shalom Rubin, Yefet Nagavkar, Eshkol Solomon, Isaac Massil, David Massil, Anim Solomon and Shai Bangerra, as well as Sri Lankan fast bowler Kapila, are clear favorites for Friday's final. Ra'anana, however, does have the potential on its team to cause an upset if it can play to the very best of its ability, so a high quality, exciting match can be expected.