Cricket: Australia off the mark with big win over Great Britain

By STEVEN SHEIN
Australia recorded its first win of the Maccabiah cricket tournament on Thursday, and did so in style, with a comprehensive 123-run win over Great Britain, to keep its medal hopes alive. Meanwhile, India made South Africa work hard for its win, falling 32 runs short chasing 177. The victory means SA is almost guaranteed a place in Tuesday's final. In the junior competition, GB bounced back from two defeats in their opening matches with a 48-run win over Israel. Australia saved its best performance of the Maccabiah so far for their arch rivals GB. Batting first, the opening pair of David (74) and Brad Majtlis (65) put on 103 for the first wicket, to set up a score of 216. GB was never in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals to be dismissed for 93. Dean Beissel took three for 29. Wayne Josselson (34) and Matthew Rosen (35) gave SA a strong start against India, and with Marc Ostrofsky adding 35 in the middle order, SA reached 177. Swapnil Penkar picked up three for 42. India was always going to rely heavily on Bension Sogawker in their chase, and he didn't disappoint, scoring 57 before being adjudged leg before wicket to David Lever. Adam Bacher grabbed three wickets in his first spell, and returned to clean up the tail to finish with five for 13 in eight overs. In Friday's matches, GB will look to put its poor performance of today behind it against Israel at Hadar Yosef, India meets Australia in Lod and in the junior section, SA plays GB. Play starts in all matches at 9:30 a.m.