For Tel Aviv, 2005 can be looked upon as a season of missed opportunities.
By JPOST.COM STAFFcricket 88(photo credit: )
In the final league game of the season, Beersheba could not repeat its previous week's heroics, losing to Tel Aviv by 6 wickets and making its win over Young Ashdod the solitary highlight of the season.
For Tel Aviv, 2005 can be looked upon as a season of missed opportunities. However for a team that was relegated in 2003 to bounce back and claim second place is an excellent achievement.
Winning the toss and batting first Beersheba had 79 on the board after 10 overs. Naor Gudker showed adventurous spirit and although he was dropped three times, notched up 37 in 26 balls before pulling a hamstring and being bowled next ball.
George Sheader and Mishrah Hirendar got among the 20s, but the visitors could not muster more than 147. For Tel Aviv Stanley Perlman had a hand in the first 6 wickets to fall taking 3 for 35 together with 3 catches.
In reply, Yogesh soon had both Tel Aviv openers back in the hut but Shai Samuel (64) and Paul Thomas (54) put on 106 for the third wicket to take the hosts to a comfortable victory.
In Cup play, Division 3 newcomers Rishon Le Zion threatened to upset seasoned campaigners Ra'anana, however by the end of the day the only thing Rishon had managed to win was the toss.
The contest itself left little worth remembering - Ra'anana won by 259 runs. Yet the rare weather conditions where Israeli cricketers needed to wear sweaters and rain stoped play was.
In the end, not even the two short delays in play at the Flicx pitch could halt Ra'anana as it marched towards an innings total of 307 for 7 in 35 overs. Rishon had its moments of joy - Yonni Sidelsky removed openers David Silver (19) and Dani Hotz (27) in successive balls, and Harel Nagan was delighted with his 3 wickets - but a quick 59 from Craig Mischel and a patient 47 from Gal Matz, capped off by a stunning innings from Rafi Zauer, who scored 97* off 47 balls, including five 6s, took the Ra'anana total beyond 300. Rishon was content on batting for as long as possible, and to its credit held out for 32 overs, but managed to score just 48. Ze'ev Landes took 3 for 5.
The all Division 2 tie between Dimona C and Diamonds was expected to be close and didn't disappoint. Shailesh Bothra scored 41 in an otherwise disappointing Diamond innings, but assisted by 51 extras, Diamonds reached 169. Avraham Benjamin (3 for 17) and Jacky Divekar (3 for 24) once again led the Dimona attack. Three top order wickets for Prashanat Prabhakaran had Dimona in big trouble, and although Divekar did his best to bring them back in the game with an undefeated 63, the tail couldn't support him and Dimona C were dismissed for 153. Prabhakaran finished with 4 for 26.
Klinger completes century after 4 year wait
Four seasons ago, then-Victorian captain Paul Reiffel declared with 20-year old batsman Michael Klinger stranded on 99. For whatever reasons, Klinger, rated as one of Australia's most promising batsman, could not regain his form after that setback and quickly fell from favor.
However after a couple of seasons in club cricket, Klinger is now back in the Victorian team and this week finally completed his maiden first class century, scoring 107 against Tasmania at the Bellerive Oval. Ironically, it was on the same ground in 2001 that Klinger fell 1-run short of his hundred.
Klinger shared a 135-run partnership with Test hopeful Brad Hodge, and although he got stuck on 89, and then had to go to tea on 95, he finally reached three figures in the fifth over back.
