A century from Akiva Lieberman proved in vain as South Manchester fell 32 runs short against Forresters.

South opted to bowl first, and althoguh Foresters got off to a steady start, Ben Darwent took his first wicket for the club.

A second soon followed as Dan Glicher removed Leeks for 7. However, South were then under the cosh as Natha and Patel put together a great partnership and the lack of an extra fielder took its toll. Natha finished on 66 and Patel on 57 and South were facing a mammoth total.

But the 10 men fought back and some great bowling from Darwent and Glicher steadied the ship. Foresters finished on 250 all out with Darwent taking 5-53 and Glicher 3-60.

South’s reply couldn’t have got off to a worse start. Woolfstein and Moss failed to trouble the scorers and at 0-2 it was looking bleak.

However, a superb partnership of 197 between Steve Glicher and Akiva Lieberman set South on course to what would have been an improbable victory. Akiva hit eight sixes and 11 fours on his way to 115 before falling to a ball which kept very low. Glicher hit 7 fours before being run out for 49 trying to keep up with the rate.

South only needed 55 of the last 10 overs but the rest of the innings crumbled and 197-2 soon became 218 all out and South fell short by 32 runs.

A great team effort which was hampered by last minute withdrawals and injuries.