Firsts’ missed opportunity
IN a horror week for the Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club, three of the four sides suffered defeats as the rollercoaster season nears an end.
IN a horror week for the Maccabi AJAX Cricket Club, three of the four sides suffered defeats as the rollercoaster season nears an end.
The First XI squandered a golden chance of a late-season victory, falling 19 runs short of Gunbower United’s 98.
The Firsts entered day two on 3-21 and were immediately on the ropes after early wickets fell.
When star batsman David Majtlis was dismissed, Josh Sacks (34) and David Fayman (23) were united at the crease with the score precariously placed on 6-44.
The pair batted sensibly, picking the gaps and running cleverly to push the score above 70.
But when Sacks was trapped LBW, Maccabi couldn’t go on and reach the target, and it was bowled out for 79.
Bowling again in search of a rare reverse outright win, Fayman, Majtlis, and Benjamin Jones each struck early to have the home side on 3-13 at tea.
However, Maccabi could take only one more wicket, as Gunbower ensured its victory.
The Second XI was the only team to taste success, recording its third victory of the season with a six-wicket win over Eastern Flow.
After losing both openers early and falling to 3-30, middle-order batsmen Leon Jacobs (46no), Matt Aubor (52no) and Mark Shnider (32) were the heroes for the Seconds, guiding the side past its target of 142, with Aubor bringing up the winning runs with a six.
The Third XI suffered a heavy defeat to Parkville District after conceding 316 runs in just 45 overs.
The Thirds were always going to struggle to chase down the mammoth total, and were bowled out for 101 in the 29th over.
The Silver Arc Fourth XI snapped a six-game winning streak when it went down to South Yarra by five wickets. But the side is still in with a strong chance of playing in the finals, sitting in third spot on the ladder, six points clear of fifth.
Maccabi was on the back foot early as it crumbled to 4-31, and continued its struggles as it fell for 77, with Osher Klein top-scoring with 33.
Daniel Wein and Zev Aron struck early for the Fourths to have South Yarra at 3-49, but Maccabi couldn’t contain its opponents, who went on to record a convincing win.
The Firsts play South Yarra at 1pm on Saturday at Treyvaud Park, Chadstone (Melway: 69 D3).
AJN Staff
Photo: Peter Haskin
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