Friendly: LMV 2nd XI v Southgate 2nd XI
In another week when London Maccabi Vale had more withdrawals than the average Icelandic Bank, they managed to turn up with 11 men, having been down to as low as eight on Sunday morning.
Unusually Southgate opted for a timed match. Won the toss yet again and with a bowling attack built for defence not offence, LMV duly inserted the opposition, convinced that our strong batting line up could score one more than Southgate.
Benjamin Lederman yet again made an early breakthrough, bowling their opening bat with a super delivery. Having beaten him on the outside several times, he brought one back to clean bowl him. With Dan Caplan using the slow pitch to his advantage the run rate was kept very slow early on.
Now down to 10 men as Benjamin's gone off injured, rumours were either to a) Get a large Vodka, b) Phone the girl he met the previous evening or c) Have a fag. After trying one or two other bowlers it was finally David Marks’ turn, in his now infamous hiking boots, turn to bowl, apparently looking for his 500th wicket in all forms of cricket.
Anyway, it didn't take long, as their other opening bat having hit everything cleanly along the deck duly obliged and tapped his fourth ball up in the air to deepish mid-off, cue celebrations.
Southgate upped the scoring rate until Aviel Schwarz took his customary wicket and then Joseph Nyman (only 12) took his maiden wicket, which slowed the scoring rate.
Southgate finally declared on 197-5 after 42 overs. A fair declaration and with guest batsman Ben Frais, a two-time Maccabiah batsman, due to open the innings LMV felt confident of the chase.
After the usual Southgate tea, most of which went on my son's plate, the innings commenced.
Frais and Gus, back from No. 4 after last week's sulks, opened. Frais, facing first, was dismissed second ball LBW. 0-1 not an ideal start, and Frais was not very happy with his performance.
Gus was joined by Michael Gersun who together put on 56 in a partnership that looked to be taking LMV well towards our target, however Gus misjudged a pull to be caught at mid-wicket.
Still, with Michael going well and Avi looking confident LMV reached the 22nd over with 89 on the board, another 111 required for victory with 20 overs to go.
Unfortunately what followed was a great example of how not play the final 20 overs as LMV lost two wickets in the 23rd over, Michael bowled behind his legs for 52 and Dan Caplan LBW, no score.
Avi was then bowled shortly afterwards for 20, and with no-one able to get the score moving the game petered out into a draw, with Jonathan Fishel ending up 19 not out, and Marksy with a pulled hammy.
Southgate 197-5 dec
LMV 158-7
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