Israel made a winning start at the ICC European Cricket Championships Division Two although they were given a scare by minnow Luxembourg in Ropa, Corfu.
Playing on the no. 1 pitch, Luxembourg tried a different strategy after their bowlers had taken a pounding from the Spanish batsmen in the morning game, and captain Tony Whiteman elected to bat first on winning the toss.
Israel’s new-ball attack of Gerrit Grundling and Herschel Gutman was quickly on top, reducing Luxembourg to 15-4. Grundling finished with the remarkable figures of 2-3 from four overs, and only Taral Desai showed any sign of mastering the bowling, making a 37-ball 36 which included four fours and two sixes.
Josh Evans also produced a good spell for the Israelis, taking 2-22 from his four overs.
