LONDON Maccabi Vale are on the verge of a remarkable fifth successive promotion after another eye-catching victory in Division Two of the Chess Valley League.
Vale were hugely impressive as they comfortably defeated Winchmore Hill by nine wickets to move to within touching distance of the top tier.
The victory marked the club’s sixth win from seven matches this season and they now have a realistic ambition of not just sealing promotion, but also of topping the table and going up as champions.
Steven Reingold was the star as he struck a magnificent 95 not out from just 38 balls to help Vale chase down a target of 118 within 10 overs. It was a thoroughly comprehensive thumping and continued LMV’s excellent form over the past few weeks.
Bowling first, Steven Allweis (2-5) set the tone from the outset, picking up a wicket with just the second ball of the match. He notched another shortly afterwards, and there were additional early scalps for Reingold, Benjamin Lederman and Simeon Cohen (2-16).
Toby Michaels (1-24) impressed on his debut, grabbing his first wicket in senior cricket as Vale maintained their dominant position.
Lederman finished with 4-28, a commendable return for the part-time spinner — and Vale headed for tea firmly in the ascendancy.
After the interval, it was the Reingold show.
He was brutally elegant in dismantling the home side’s bowlers, bringing up his half-century off just 23 balls before pressing down even harder on the accelerator as Vale cruised to victory.
Reingold finished unbeaten at the end, just five short of a century, with eight fours and eight mesmerising sixes taking Vale home and leaving them on the brink of a historic achievement.
CHESS VALLEY LEAGUE DIVision 2 TABLE
1. Brondesbury Pl 7 W.6 NRR 3.09 Pts 24
2.London Maccabi Vale Pl 7 W.6 NRR 2.64 Pts 24
3. Wembley Pl 7 W.5 NRR 1.43 Pts 23
4. Watford Town Pl 7 W.2 NRR -0.35 Pts 16
5. Abbots Langley Pl 6 W.2 NRR -0.38 Pts 13
6. Ikenham Pl 7 W.3 NRR -0.27Pts 10
7. St Albans Pl 7 W.1 NRR –0.79 Pts 10
8. Chingford Pl 6 W.1 NRR -1.26 Pts 4
9. Winchmore Hill Pl 7 W.1 NRR -2.83 Pts 1
10 St John’s Wood Pl 7 W.0 NRR -2.35 Pts -2