A three horse title race in cricket leauge

Ra’anana and Young Ashdod win, Neve Yonatan held to a draw.

By BY JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Cricket 311 (photo credit: Akhil Rajput)
Cricket 311
(photo credit: Akhil Rajput)
Ra’anana returned to the top of the table with a vital sevenwicket win over Lod Rangers in Lod on Friday, but Young Ashdod are right behind after they won a close battle against city rivals Ashdod A in Ashdod on Saturday.
Neve Yonatan probably had their title aspirations ended with a tense draw in Be’er Sheva. Lions Lod, slightly off the pace after not playing over the weekend, meet Young Ashdod on Saturday in a game which could have a significant bearing on the destination of this seasons’ trophy.
Eliezer Samson, better known for his bowling skills, showed he has plenty to offer with the bat as well, playing an excellent innings of 95 to help Lod Rangers, despite being reduced to 19 for 3, to a competitive score of 227, all out in the 45th over against Ra’anana.
Leg spinner Josh Evans found turn and bounce in taking 3 for 42, whilst Des Moss took 3 for 52.
Needing to score at 6.5 per over to win, Ra’anana lost Evans (13) run out, but a 2nd wicket stand of 119 between Daniel Hyman (98) and Mikki Cohen (42) went a long way to set up the victory.
Danny Hotz (32*) and David Silver (24*) finished off the job with just under 2 overs to spare.
The game in Ashdod on Saturday was almost a carbon copy of Friday’s game. Ashdod A were dismissed for 201 in the 44th over, with Danny Malyankar continuing his excellent season taking 5 for 42 With 36 overs to bat, Young Ashdod lost 8 wickets along the way to securing victory with an over to spare.