ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
MAL claimed a thrilling last-ball victory in a four-run victory against London Maccabi Vale 2nd.
Skippered by Mark Landau, MAL elected to bat first on a good surface at Old Camdenians, but with a long outfield, openers Russell Corin and Adam Katten found runs hard to come by.
LMV new ball bowlers Ben Lederman and Jonathan Freedman kept things tight early on, with Katten departing in the eighth over to a delivery from Freedman.
Ian Salter joined Corin and found it equally tough to score initially - their partnership taking the score to 33 off 14 overs before Corin was bowled by Avi Hoddes for 13. David Garbacz made 4 before he was bowled by Jon Lederman.
Salter upped his scoring rate, before attempting to sweep Thomas Goulde and being bowled for 35. Mark Landau joined Tony Wise and looked to be aggressive from the off striking six boundaries in his 31.
Wise was bowled by Ben Kohler for 11, and Landau fell to the same bowler, Avi Schwarz clinging on to a good catch at square leg from a full blooded pull. Nathan Wise was bowled first ball.
Joel Newman and Lederman looked to take MAL through, but two quick run outs scuppered that plan, Newman and Yitzy Hill the unlucky men. Michael Klinger was last to go for 0, the innings closed on 145 after 38 overs.
After tea, Ben Kohler and Jonny Gould started solidly for LMV, with Neil Lederman and Yitzy Hill keeping a lid on the scoring rate.
Joel Newman and Mike Klinger replaced the opening bowlers, and the score had progressed to 61 before Kohler drove hard at Newman and was well held by youngster Nathan Wise at mid on for 27.
David Freedman was bowled by Mark Landau for 5, and Jonny Gould eventually fell for 19 in the 18th over, caught by Katten at mid-on from the bowling of Klinger. Schwartz was bowled by Landau for 0, and Jon Lederman joined Ben with 66 required from 20 overs with six wickets in hand.
LMV struggled to score off Landau and Salter. Both Ledermen fell in the same fashion, bowled by Salter's leg spin. Spanjar and Hoddes rebuilt well, but never really accelerated the run rate against Nathan Wise, Salter and the returning Neil Lederman.
By the final over six runs were needed for victory with four wickets in hand. Landau bowled it - and Hoddes was run out trying to scramble a single, as Neil Lederman calmy underarmed the ball to Landau to take down the stumps. Spanjar was LBW walking across his stumps, leaving five runs required from two balls. Two dot balls saw MAL win by four runs.