Maccabi League - Week 4 Preview

6th June 2008

The Maccabi League reached it's halfway point on Sunday with three potentially fascinating encounters.

Game of the day sees high flying MAL host Belmont and Edgware at home. Both teams come off the back of impressive wins in the league with MAL now within touching distance of the title. It's do or die for Belmont too, for them a win is critical if they're to maintain any chance of a league title challenge.

Both teams are expected to be slightly changed with MAL set to welcome back Charlie Sherrard to the bowling attack in place of veteran all-rounder Tony Wise. Sherrard is likely to receive assistance from the baby-faced destroyer Jon Begner and left armer Avi Kestenbaum.

Meanwhile Belmont and Edgware make a host of changes with Daniel Geey returning to the side he skippered so well in 2007. Geey is joined by some formidable bowlers in the form of David Kaplan, Warren Averbuch and seasoned all rounder Cliff Horowitz.

MAL start as firm favourites however much of the batting will again rest on the broad shoulders of Mark Landau who will need to be at his very best to ensure that the otherwise untested MAL batting does not become too exposed.

Surprisingly sixth placed Casual Nomads find themselves in an almost unreal position already at the half way point of the season. Out of the league title race and now in terrible danger of not making the playoffs. Following their last ball defeat to Southgate last week, Andy Finlay makes a number of changes bringing back opening bat David Finlay, keeper Mark Aziz and specialist hitter Andy Landsburg to face Newlands and Northwood.

Newlands also find themselves in a tricky position. A convincing win against Barnet has been followed up by two heavy defeats and like Nomads they too could find themselves with nothing left to play for by the start of July. In a bid to turn the tide, Jon Mymin fields his strongest squad to date including Darren Cohen, Alan Segall, Benny Wolpe, Saul Marine and Richard Segalov.

This really is a must win game for both sides but Nomads will be seething from their start to the season and Newlands will have to play exceptionally well to inflict a third defeat on the reigning league champions.

Finally, the third game sees Barnet travel round the A406 to meet Chigwell. For Barnet it's still early days whilst a resurgent new look Chigwell will look to get their season back on track after a heavy defeat last week to Belmont. Little team news is available for this one at the moment but if the new look Chigwell team shows up, it's difficult to see beyond a home win.

Maccabi League - Week 3 Review

2nd June 2008

Another busy day in the Barratts sponsored Maccabi League saw a surprise win for Southgate and two solid victories for MAL and Belmont & Edgware.

Game of the day saw Casual Nomads take on Southgate at Shenley. Having won the toss, Richard Mitchell inserted the home side on a wet sticky wicket and a sustained bowling performance by the Southgate all seam attack, managed to restrict a potentially dangerous Nomads batting line-up to just 160 with crucial knocks from Danny Samson (48) and Richard Ferrer (44), Robert Apple was the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 24 from his eight over.

What subsequently followed was one of the most exciting and dramatic run chases for many years in the league. Mitchell and Smokler put on an opening stand of 67 in 22 overs before Mitchell was dismissed. Smokler (58) continued on, upping the scoring rate before both he and Richard Israelite (15) perished in quick succession. With 58 needed in 10 overs, Simon Taylor (31*) was joined at the crease by Russell Wainbergas (25*). Both batsman took time to adjust to the conditions with the required run rate rising to above 7.5 per over. With 50 needed from 7 overs, the batsmen cut loose dispatching Jack Malnick's final over for 16 before Polatinsky and Brodkin again put the breaks on the run scoring with three tight overs. With 28 needed off four overs, Taylor again cut loose playing some exquisite shots off Polantisky leaving just 19 runs off the final 3 overs. Brodkin's penultimate over went for a costly 10 runs leaving the visitors requiring just 9 off the last 2 overs. Under pressure Polatinsky bowled a class over conceding just 3 runs meaning Southgate required 6 off the final over and when Brodkin turned to bowl the final delivery of the game, all three results were possible, Southgate needing 2 to win or 1 to tie. Taylor flashed outside off stump hitting through point and scoring the winning runs.

Elsewhere MAL struck up another convincing win beating struggling Newlands and Northwood. Batting first, the league leaders blasted a mammoth 226/3 from their 40 overs with Mark Landau (72) and Tony Wise (68*) scoring the bulk of the runs.

Newlands were never in the game and at 12/6 looked to heading for the most embrassing of defeats. Only Darren Cohen was able to put up any type of resistance scoring a gutsy 57, but when he fell the game was well and truly over.

Maccabi League - Week 3 Preview

29th May 2008

It's the most crucial of weekends in the Barratts Maccabi Sunday Cricket League on Sunday with two games which will have a major impact on the chances of MAL to put one hand on the league trophy and on the team most likely to challenge them for honours.

Game of the day will see Casual Nomads take on Southgate at Shenley. Both teams come into the game off of heavy defeats to MAL in the league and for both teams, form will be a big issue with neither team playing over the past two weeks.

Andy Finlay hopes to field another strong team welcoming back stalwart Norman Marine to join the pace bowling attack led by Oscar Brodkin and Rafi Polatinsky. There are also likely to be first league starts for Michael Ziff and David Stockman.

Richard Mitchell makes several changes from the side which lost to MAL two weekends ago. Robert Apple, Ashley Smokler and Dean Gerschlowitz come into the team as Mitchell hopes to strengthen the fragile batting line-up.

The key battle will be between the Southgate batting line up and the prolific Nomads bowling attack. If Southgate can find some form this could be a cracker, however Nomads (despite the week long banter between the two captain's) will start as definite favourites and could win this one comfortably.

The second game sees top of the table MAL travel to Newlands and Northwood. Gavriel Lebens' boys will be delighted with their early season form and have made themselves into title favourites already. Lebens will hope to welcome back some of the young starlets including Jon Begner and Avi Kestenbaum but will have to find a new opening batsman after Mel Corin's permanent move to Israel.

Newlands on the other hand will hope to be much improved on their poor showing against Chigwell. They will hope to welcome back Jon Mymin, Benny Wolpe and also have available the services of Virgil Levy and Darren Cohen.

Given MAL's start to the season only one result looks likely between these two teams and much will depend on the strength Newlands.

The third and final game sees bouyant Chigwell take another trek around the A406 to meet Belmont & Edgware. Bouyed by a surprisingly comfortable first win of the season, captain Nigel Katseph will hope for another strong showing from his new look side. He will hope that Paul Fuchs will once again fire with the bat and hope that one or two others will be able to notch up some consistent scores.

BECC who started the season in poor style look much more like that strong team from last season and welcome back captain Lawrence Jeffries, Tim Cresner, Stuart Davis, Jon Schryer and David Kaplan. This could be a surprisingly entertaining game and could go either way.

Maccabi League - Week 2 Preview

14th May 2008

After opening weekend wins for MAL, Southgate and Newlands & Northwood, week two follows hot in the heels of an interesting first round of matches.

MAL who pulled off the first real shock of the season travel the short distance to meet Southgate in what could prove to be the decisive league fixture of the season already. However, both teams are expected to make significant changes from the matches last weekend with MAL likely to be without Charlie Sherrard, Tony Wise, Jon Begner, Avi Kestenbaum whilst Jewish cricket stalwart Mel Corin has made aliyah this week.

The Southgate side boasts a number of changes from the side which overcame a determined Belmont & Edgware side last weekend, seeing the return of 2007 Maccabi League Batsman Richard Israelite whilst Southgate are set to give league debuts to a number of new faces including opening batsman Russell Wainbergas and seamer Dani Yudelowitz.

Given the exclusions of MAL, Southgate will start as favourites however the batting line-up will need to improve on their first outting.

Meanwhile, Newlands and Northwood make the long trip across London to meet Chigwell. Having completed a comprehensive first week win over Barnet, Newlands & Northwood will be in confident mood however appear to be a little under strengthed this week with the inclusion of Benny Wolpe and Jon Mymin looking in doubt.

For Chigwell it will be a first outdoor outting of the season and a chance for new skipper Nigel Katseph to see just how far his new look squad have come. Katseph welcomes back a number of familiar faces including left-arm spinners, Paul Fuchs and Kevin Sinclair, seamer David Glick and all-rounder Danny Myers and is expected to give debuts to a couple of new faces.

If N&N are missing key players, Chigwell could pull off another shock result and get their season off to a flyer.

Having been given a harsh lesson in week one, new boys Barnet have already become victims of injuries and commitments unable to field a team against 2007 Champions Casual Nomads.

Maccabi League - Week 1 Round-Up

12th May 2008

There were opening day wins in the Barratts Shoes sponsored Maccabi League for Newlands & Northwood, MAL and Southgate.

MAL pulled off the result of the day and the first shock of the new cricket season with a dramatic 9 wicket win against defending champions Casual Nomads. Having elected to bat first, Nomads set off in search of a good score with Brett Simon scoring a breezy 67. However the defending champions soon collapsed from 100/3 to 131 all out.

In reply MAL crept cautiously towards the total wary of the strong Nomads bowling attack, coming home with just over 9 overs to spare with opening batsman Mark Landau scoring an unbeaten 44 ably supported by Tony Wise unbeaten on 47.

New boys Barnet received a warm welcome from Newlands and Northwood over at Durrants OMT with the home side amassing 223/8, veteran opening batsman Benny Wolpe scoring the first century of the new Maccabi season. In reply Barnet came up well short limping to just 69 all out with John Lishak carrying his bat for an undefeated 34.

Across London, weakened Belmont and Edgware opted to bat on a crumbly, dusty, two-paced pitch against Southgate. Led by Michael Blasebalk (36) the away side struggled early on before pushing towards the hundred mark. A late order collapse started by the excellent bowling of Ray Bean 5 for 33) halted the charge with BECC making just 130.

The Southgate innings faltered for the most part with Lee Stuart managing 29 but with his demise, the home side looked in trouble at 65/4. Captain Richard Mitchell hit a fluent 22 before being caught at slip by which time only 19 were required and the home side got home with 14 overs to spare.

Maccabi Twenty:20 Draw

9th May 2008

The 2008 Maccabi Twenty:20 draw has taken place. This years competition features six teams in two groups of three. The groups are as follows:-

Group A: Newlands and Northwood, MAL and Southgate
Group B: BECC 2nds, Casual Nomads and Chigwell

Group stages will be held on Sunday 22nd June with finals day three weeks later.