GREATER MANCHESTER AMATEUR CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION THREE
Salford Jewish Cricket Club 154-7
Manchester Maccabi 66
Salford won by 88 runs

A brutal innings from Elliot Koffman helped Salford JCC win the battle of the GMACL with an emphatic 88-run victory.

On a blustery day at Scholes cricket ground, Manchester Maccabbi hosted Salford in a bottom of the table clash that has traditionally proved to be a charged affair.

Winning the toss and electing to bowl, Maccabi captain, Ray Tammam, opened the bowling with himself and the experienced Stuart Simpson, with Salford openers Jonny Wineberg and Elliot Koffman taking up the challenge.

Koffman immediately looked comfortable against Tammam’s looping deliveries, hitting sixes in each of his first two overs. Wineberg fell cheaply to a ball that popped up on a length from Tammam, having looked likely to form a strong partnership with Koffman.

Koffman was joined by Michael Pfeffer and the two set about scoring runs at a frenetic pace, racking up 70 runs in just 13 overs. Pfeffer fell with the score on 79 and was replaced by the obdurate Shimon Harris, who proceeded to hold up an end whilst Koffman kept up the scoring rate.

Partners came and went (S Harris 2; D Paul 0) with Maccabi looking to build pressure. Davidi Neumann proved an excellent foil for Koffman, scoring 24 in a brisk knock. Koffman finally fell on 79, having shown glimpses of his best form, five big sixes being the highlights of the innings.

Salford captain Robert Marks, added some useful runs in the final overs to take the Salford total to 154-7.

Charles Braunstein claimed an impressive 3-31 for Maccabi, with captain Tammam chipping in with 3-51.

Set a target of 155, Maccabi set about tackling the runs strongly, with Braunstein drilling Daniel Paul’s first ball for four runs. Paul regained his line quickly, and clean bowled Braunstein a few balls later for nine.

The mercurial Davidi Neumann was brought into the attack and the Maccabi batsmen found it difficult to deal with his pace.

Maccabi captain Ray Tammam, having scored just four, eventually followed a wide ball from Neumann and his edge was taken behind with a quite stunning catch by Salford keeper Shimon Harris, diving to his right.

The experienced Stuart Simpson look more comfortable at the crease and, having been dropped by Marks, looked set to make Salford pay. However, Michael Pine removed the danger man for 6, in his first over, and two more wickets fell quickly.

Jonny Wineberg set about finishing of the tail aided by a superb Michael Pine (2-9) and a metronomic Daniel Paul (1-19). Wineberg finished with the impressive figures of 4-10. Maccabi were bowled out for 66, concluding a hard fought contest.

A comprehensive victory by 88 runs, ensuring Salford took the season’s bragging rights over their local rivals.