A hat-trick from Australian all-rounder Bronson Ritterman was not enough to help Belmont & Edgware 1st from slipping to their second defeat in the Middlesex Sunday League Division One.
The Maccabi Ajax player from Melbourne took wickets with three consecutive deliveries on his way to figures of 4-44. Skipper Richie Wienburg also took four wickets but the team was blown away by Harrow St Mary’s who finished on 271-9. Bowler Saul Weitzman top-scored with 34 as BECC were skittled out for 134.
A century from Yoav Lebens helped MAL maintain their impressive start to the season as they won a high-scoring friendly against Birkbeck College.
Pace: Belmont and Edgware bowler Saul Weitzman found himself in the firing line
The Birkbeck innings got off to a roaring start as MAL’s bowlers went for more than six an over. The introduction of left-armers Mark Landau and Grant Traub slowed the run rate. A late flurry of wickets saw the home side bowled out for an imposing 238 in the final over, with Traub finishing with 3-22. Lebens grabbed a couple of wickets with Mark Landau, Josh Begner and Mike Klinger picking up one each.
MAL’s reply started solidly with Landau and Daniel Caller putting on 66 for the first wicket. Yoav Lebens and Tali Rowe set about a fantastic partnership, eventually realising 140 in little over 15 overs. Lebens smashed a century, including five sixes, to finish 107 not out. Rowe accelerated rapidly through his innings to finish unbeaten on 51 as MAL won by eight wickets. A nine-man London Maccabi Vale 1st team earned an impressive victory over Adrian House. Neil Lederman was the pick of the bowlers with seven overs costing him 19 runs. Seven dropped catches enabled Adrian House to close on 183-6 with debutant Adam Brami among the wicket-takers.
Openers Paul Durban and Haffner got LMV’s reply off to a steady start. Neither panicked despite a climbing run rate, and from then on started to time their shots and find the gaps in the field. Haffner reached the half-century mark first, having taken just 60 balls but departed soon after following a 129 opening partnership. Durban then took on the responsibility for the innings, sharing solid partnerships with captain-for-the-day Jerome Colmans, Brami and Aviel Schwarz, and never allowed the run-rate to climb above seven. Durban finally departed for an excellent run-a-ball 90 and it was left to Andrew Daniels to smash successive boundaries as LMV claimed victory with two balls to spare.
Sedgley maintained their 100 per cent record in the Manchester Jewish Cricket League’s Twenty20 with a 35-run victory over Bury & Whitefield. As per competition rules, Jonny Wineburg retired on 35 as Sedgley posted 122-7. Requiring little over six an over, Bury made a steady start with Zevi Saunders and David First making 31 for the first wicket. Two suicidal run-outs put paid to Bury’s hopes with Shaya Rabinowitz’s metronomic length tying them down. Mark Blackston was left stranded on 20 not out as bowlers kept things tight with Jeremy Korn, Robert Marks and Wineburg easing them home.
South Manchester Maccabi maintained their unbeaten run in all competitions as they overcame Manchester Maccabi by 22 runs. Mike Basger led the way with an unbeaten 33 as South accumulated 109-9, of which extras were the top-scorers with 41. Excellent spells from the father and son team of Jonny and Huddy Lieberman along with a fiery burst from Michael Filson ensured a South victory.
