MAL earn second Sunday League title

The Nomads response started steadily, if unspectacularly. At 75-0 after 17 overs, the required rate had crept up to almost seven.

The introduction of left-arm spinner Grant Traub lifted MAL. He picked up two quick wickets, removing skipper Richard Ferrer (21) and Mark Aziz for a duck. The first ball of his next over saw Samson fall LBW for an excellent 46. 76-3 became 99-5 in the 27th as Michael Klinger added to the pressure with two wickets, courtesy of excellent catches from Gav Lebens and Avi Gelley.

Jerome Roith (57) put together an excellent innings but there was far too much for him to do. Gelley and Lebens combined picked up four wickets between them as Nomads looked to throw the bat in vain.

Roith was eighth man out with the score on 172 and with him went any residual hope that Nomads might have had. The final wicket fell in the 38th over and sparked scenes of celebration.

A man of the match display from Tony Gellman helped Manchester Maccabi win the NJCL Cup final.

Gellman (41) top-scored in Manchester’s total of 192 from 40 overs. Steven Allweis added 38 runs. Daniel Franks (4-5) put in a demon spell with the ball for Bury, but his efforts went unrewarded as Bury & Whitefield were dismissed for 50. Belmont & Edgware 1st were beaten in their final game of the season, a friendly against North Harrow. An unbeaten 74 from Michael Blasebalk, his highest ever score, helped BECC close on 187-8. Harrow won the match with overs to spare.

BECC skipper Blasebalk announced his retired at the close of play. He is stepping down after 11 years at the helm and is standing forward to become club chairman.