End in sight after horror season
IN its final match of the year, the Maccabi AJAX First XI again struggled to capitalise on a solid start, and was dismissed by South Yarra for 150.
IN its final match of the year, the Maccabi AJAX First XI again struggled to capitalise on a solid start, and was dismissed by South Yarra for 150.
Opening batsmen Brett Weiner and David Majtlis got the Firsts off to a flyer with a 40-run stand, before Wiener was caught for 12.
Mark Soffer joined Majtlis for another strong partnership of 40, and it seemed as though the side would notch up a solid total.
But a catastrophic batting collapse saw Maccabi lose 5-20, before being bundled out for 150 with 16 overs left to play in the day.
South Yarra continued its dominance with the bat, reeling in almost a third of the target and leaving the Firsts in a devastating position ahead of day two.
The Second XI also has a tough task ahead of it in its match against Malvern, having lost two wickets early in its run-chase of 209.
Daniel Onas (3-23) did most of the damage for Maccabi, but it wasn’t enough to restrict the opposition from reaching the double ton.
The Seconds then struggled at the crease, losing two early wickets for five runs, leaving Adam Rapoport and Leon Jacobs the not-out batsmen.
The Third XI had the week off to rest for its extended one-dayer against Burnley CYMS on the weekend.
The Silver Arc Fourth XI wasted a chance to secure its place in the finals, after failing to chase down Bentleigh’s total of 126.
The side still sits in fourth spot on the ladder, but will require a win against the third-placed South Yarra to ensure a finals berth.
Electing to bowl first, the Fourths were on the front foot for the entire innings and kept the home side to a modest total.
Simon Fisher (5-19) was the standout, recording his seventh career five-wicket haul, while Adam Kahlberg (2-10) and Daniel Wein (2-15) added to the breakthroughs in a solid bowling display.
But the Fourths struggled in response, losing a string of early wickets that saw the run-chase in trouble at 5-26.
Sam Brygel (16) anchored himself at the crease, but others continued to fall.
Nadav Greenberger (19) top-scored in the lower order, however, the damage had been done and the Fourths were rolled for just 86.
The Firsts continue their match against South Yarra at 1pm on Saturday at Treyvaud Park, Chadstone (Melway: 69 D3).
AJN Staff
Photo: Peter Haskin
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