Excellent bowling from Akiva Lieberman and Avrom Topperman earned South Manchester Maccabi 23 points after they beat Leeds Maccabi by seven wickets in the NJCL.
South were immediately on top with Topperman bowling Leeds danger man Simon Williams with an unplayable inswinging delivery which removed the middle stump. South's bowlers continued to run through the Leeds batting with only Jonny Wineberg (20) offering resistance. Topperman (3-12) and Lieberman, who generated real pace, ripped through the batting to finish, with Lieberman finishing with 3-8. Leeds' total of 64 was never enough, which showed when South took their turn at the crease. Rabinovitz finished unbeaten on 21 as South reached their target with ease.
The league's other match was another low-scoring affair with a depleted Bury & Whitefield able to field eight players against Salford. Things did not go well as they were dismissed for seven. Daniel Paul was the chief tormentor as Salford won by 10 wickets.
London Maccabi Vale 1st moved a step closer to promotion from Middlesex Sunday League Division Two after claiming a 47-run victory over Wycombe House. Openers Danny Caro (30) and Richard Black made a flying start. Black's dismissal brought captain Adam Brand to the crease. Fresh from two early season centuries, Brand, who was dropped early on, smashed his way to 75 in good time. Mark Bott (38) added some lusty blows to take the score to 224-9.
Only four Wycombe House batsmen reached double figures as the LMV attack turned the screw in the second innings. Saul Weitzman, Ryan Kangisser, Rafi Polatinsky (2-23), Jon Galloway and Brand (2-33).
MAL vice-captain Mark Landau blasted "a sub-standard performance in the field" as they suffered a five-wicket defeat against Harrow St Mary's in Division Three. Yoav Lebens (92) and debutant Mark Aziz (31) delivered an enterprising stand of 83. Assisted by Tony Wise and Pinty Baddiel, MAL progressed to 177-3 but lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs. Lebens ended a masterful innings with 13 boundaries and two sixes as MAL finished on 215. But all the good work was undone by slippery fingers in the field as HSM cruised home with five overs to spare.
An heroic 93 from Nigel Rothband earned London Maccabi Vale 2nd their first league win of the campaign as they edged past Haryom by one wicket. Excellent spells from Jonathan Freedman (3-22). Simon Renshaw (3-40) and teenager Andrew Greenwall-Cohen (7-2-8-2) restricted Haryom to 151.
With Rothband the only recognised batsman, LMV's hopes were hit when the veteran picked up a groin injury. He played through the pain barrier to put the team on the brink of victory. The last wicket pairing of Adam Morris and Freedman kept their nerve to steer LMV home.
Chigwell & Hainault overcame Barnet Synagogue to set up a clash against London Maccabi Vale in the Maccabi National Knockout Cup. In a preliminary round tie, Barnet were restricted to 161. Nigel Katseph picked up the key wicket of Barnet danger man John Lishak, who had hit a big score in the rained off fixture earlier in the season.
An indisciplined display from Chigwell, who conceded 47 extras, together with useful contributions from Richard Carlowe (32) and Richard Berman (30) gave Barnet something to defend, putting on a partnership of 70.
Matt Murray (25) and Stuart Kaye (30) helped Chigwell start well. A partnership of 50 was followed by one of 43 between Danny and Michael Myers. Lloyd Duddridge (21) saw Chigwell home.
Belmont & Edgware 1st maintained their perfect start with a narrow win against Wealdstone Corinthians (160). Tight spells from Gideon Restan (3-18), Michael Prager and Neil Myeroff, Rafi Addlestone and Jonathan Evans put BECC in charge. Evans and Abrahams (65) shared a partnership of 54 with Abrahams steering BECC home.
Manchester Maccabi Under 13s (108-3) lost by three runs against Monton & Weaste (111-6). Manchester Joe Lewis (2-11) and Robbie Blackman (2-13) impressed with the ball. Debutant Nathan Orr grabbed a wicket with his first ball in competitive cricket.
Jamie Benjamin, Josh Gellman and Alex Benjamin kept Maccabi in the game but they fell agonisingly short.