Old Nepotists 220-7
LMV 2nd XI 179
LMV lost by 41 runs

A young London Maccabi Vale team performed admirably in a friendly against Old Nepotists.

Winning the toss and bowling first on a very damp Rowley Lane pitch, LMV took the field with 8 players 18 or under, surely one of the youngest teams ever to take the field for LMV.

Benjamin Lederman and Adam Morris, two 14-year-olds opened the bowling and despite some lusty blows from the Nepotists openers bowled a tidy opening 10 overs, with Adam gaining a well deserved wicket .

With Leders Snr also bowling a tidy spell and taking a wicket, Nepotists reached the halfway stage with score on 83-2.

Hoping to restrict Nepotists to under 200, LMV were further encouraged as Alex Nyman (16) took two quick wickets. However a 6th wicket stand of 75 set LMV back and despite a great spell from 12-year-old Joseph Nyman four overs, one wicket for only 19 runs, Nepotists ended up on 220.

The ground fielding throughout the innings was excellent, but unfortunately too many dropped catches cost LMV dear.

In reply, LMV opened with the father-and-son combination of Jacob and David Freedman, who batted well together (surprisingly) until David was bowled.

Jacob went on to make a fine 44 before becoming one of four wickets for the world’s slowest bowler you have ever seen. Benjamin Gordon (16) got a first baller, but Jonathan Fishel (now an old head at 18), batted well until he too got bowled by the WSB. Despite wickets continuing to fall at regular intervals the score kept moving.

Benjamin Lederman, Mark Spanjar and Joseph Nyman all made double figures and with debutant Tobias Batkin swishing a quick 20, LMV ended up on 179 all out.

A loss but a very creditable performance under the circumstances.