GAMES WE PLAY: Cricket

Cup glory for Ashdod

By STEVEN SHEIN
Ashdod A secured the ICA Cup with a resounding victory by 67 runs over Ra'anana in the final played in Ashdod on Friday. Batting first, Gershon Waskar and Hillel Awasker amassed 172 for the first wicket. Waskar was fortunate to survive the early overs, being put down in the slips before he had scored, and being beaten time and time again outside his off stump. However once he weathered the initial onslaught, he began playing with freedom and struck the ball powerfully, especially square of the wicket. Awasker, who has been in excellent late season form, was hardly troubled and played the support role superbly. Waskar was first to go, out for 84, and Awasker fell soon afterwards for 64. Menashe Wadhawker (20) hit two towering sixes, as Ashdod swung the bat freely in the closing overs, to take their total well beyond 200. Although Ra'anana, through Des Moss (four for 36) picked up late wickets, a total of 248 for 7 in 35 overs was a superb effort by the home team. Ra'anana needed a good start, but were in early trouble when Nissim Reuben trapped Danny Hotz (three) leg before with the total on five. That soon became 19 for two when Moss (nine) was bowled by Reuben. The experienced duo of David Silver and Adrian Vard rebuilt the innings, but all their hard work was undone in the 16th over with the score on 79, as Michael Moses dismissed Silver, brilliantly caught at slip by Wadhawker for 37, and bowled Vard (17) in the space of a couple of balls. Moses then chipped in with the wicket of Rafi Zauer (15), leaving Ra'anana at 105 for five and in trouble of suffering a humiliating defeat. A lively stand of 47 between Gal Matz and Steven Shein in 5 overs revived the contest, but when Shein was run out for 20 with just under 100 still needed for victory, the game once again seemed to be safely in Ashdod's hands. Matz fought on bravely and skillfully to finish undefeated on 53, but his team finished with 3 for 33, and Moses claimed three for 46. Please submit items for 'Games We Play' via e-mail to sports@jpost.com