Open cricket – match 2
Australia 215, GB 93, Australia won by 122 runs
Another batting collapse resulted in Team GB suffering their second consecutive defeat as they were humbled by 122 runs against Australia in the Ashes clash on Thursday.
Having lost their opener against South Africa, GB put the Aussies into bat on the Flix wicket at Hadar Yosef. They got off to a flyer and at 100-0 after 20 overs the signs looked ominous with brothers Brad and Majtlis setting solid foundations.
GB made the all-important breakthrough a few balls later as Adam Brand had Brad Majtlis caught behind by London Maccabi Vale teammate Richard Black for an excellent 65.
Things got even better the very next over as Mark Bott had Dylan Weiner caught brilliantly down the legside by Black to leave the Aussies 104-2.
There was major controversy minutes later as with the batsmen thinking the ball was dead, Brand spotted Aussie skipper Brett Rosen out of his crease at the non-striker’s end and whipped off the bails.
Rosen was fuming as the umpires had little option but to give him out and the skipper exchanged some verbals with the fielding team. The bad feeling spilled over on to the rival camps with the Aussies believing that GB should have called Rosen back to the crease.
At 105-3, and with Australia losing three quick wickets for five runs, GB were back in the game.
It soon became 111-4 as quick thinking from the alert Black saw him gather a poor through in the middle of the wicket and run out the next batsman with a direct under-arm hit after hesitation between the batsmen.
Australia were rocking but Dean Majtlis, who was anchoring the innings, remained patient to pass the 50 mark. Saul Weitzman then got among the wickets, getting through Beissel, leaving the Aussies 150-5.
Ryan Kangisser returned to the attack and got through Majtlis’ defence for a well-made 74. This was arguably a match-winning display.
Australia were eventually dismissed for 215 in the 49th over. The bowling figures were: Weitzman (10-2-42), Kangisser (6-36-1), Darren Gerard (10-24-1), Brand (6-35-1), Bott (10-41-1) and Neil Lederman (5-30-0). There were also three run-outs with Kangisser breaking the stumps at the bowler’s end to finish the innings a few balls early.
Having been dismissed for 140 against South Africa on Tuesday, GB were looking for an improved display from their batsman but it did not come as they were skittled for a paltry 80.
Only three GB batsmen made double figures. Rob Yule hit 17, Lawrence Bensusan and Richard Black scored 10 apiece. There were also 23 extras.
Manager Nigel Rothband said: “We didn’t bat very well today and Australia were better than us in all three disciplines.”
Looking for a positive, he added: “We lost our first two games four years ago and won a medal so we know what we must do in our next two games.”
GB plays Israel at Hadar Yosef today and Israel in Lod on Sunday.
GB: Darren Gerard (capt), Mark Bott, Adam Brand, Rob Yule, Jerome Colmans, Lawrence Bensusan, David Romain, Richard Black, Ryan Kangisser, Saul Weitzman, Neil Lederman
Rested: Andrew Daniels, Ben Frais
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