By, Anonymous
4 min read
ByAnonymous, Anonymous
Even in the cut-throat world of the modern game of cricket, where winning is (almost) everything, a week like we have just enjoyed reminds us where the sport's true excitement comes from. YMC'B', a team made up of the second string players of the YMC club, have recently sufferered their second and third defeats of the season. The margins of defeat are not small, in fact they are colossal.
A defeat by their 'A' team brothers from the YMCA by 154-8, then more recently to youthful Modi'in Young Lions 119-39 and then to the leagues new comers, Kiddush Club Jerusalem 148-13 would send most players into early retirement. But not the YMCB. With every YMCB run scored and each wicket taken, the Beee's as they are affectionately known are full of enthusiasm, good humour and fun.
Lead by two YMC stalwarts, Michael Morris and David 'Chopper' Harris, the banter between players displayed at the cricket matches is often more entertaining than the cricket on display. The likes of Morris, Chopper, Joe Neppe and Sol Talkar have endured more cricket defeats than most but, week in, week out, they play with a smile on their faces and enjoy each others company. They might be winless this season, but they are winning new fans on a weekly basis.
The first defeat of the week for the Beee's, was to Modi'in Young Lions 119, with Emmanuel Solomon and Yogev Nagavkar sharing the highest partnership of the match, (37) YMCB posted 38. Giddon Samuels took two wickets for the Beee's. For MYL, Yaneer Sahor, Solomon and Yair Nagavkar each picked up two wickets in a win that took MYL up to second place on the table.
Next up for the Beee's were the ruthless Kiddush Club Jerusalem who bundled the Beee's out for 13, before amassing 148. Only a late blitz by Talkar, where he took 23 off the last eight balls that he faced elevated the Beee's into positive numbers and showed the YMCA captain, Brett Hickson, who was watching from the stands, that he is knocking on the door of the 'A' team. For KCJ, there were three remarkable feats, first Dave Lawrence took a hat-trick and then, Rael Olwyn went one better and took two hat-tricks in a spell of bowling that claimed six wickets for a negative score of 26. Aryeh Gluck, Ilan Buchbinder chipped in with two wickets each.
A score of 200 was on the cards as the Olwyn brothers, Avron and Rael scored 65 in their first three overs, but true to from, the Beee's although well beaten, never gave up and Samuels picked up 4 wickets in the final over of the match.
Pearl Dental Cricket Club played a double-header, beating Mumbai Challengers by 105 to 72. Gerrit Grundling and David Kable scored 31 while Shamir Ghosalkar was the most successful Challengers bowler with two wickets.
Pearl's experience at this format of the game proved the difference as only David Dhokarkar and Alon Benjamin got to grips with the batting for the Challengers, scoring 33. Rafi Karp with three wickets, Craig Levy, Grundling and Yoni Salomon, with two each, were the wicket-takers.
In the highly anticipated KCJ against Pearl Dental match, newcomers KCJ showed why they are the favourites to lift the title as they completely dominated all areas of the match and soundly beat Pearl by 57 runs.
Pearl Dental batted first but could not handle the KCJ bowlers and fielders as they lost 12 wickets in their 16 overs. KCJ skipper, Jason Bloom, Avron Olwyn and Buchbinder shared nine wickets as Pearl crumbled to a paltry 54.
The game was over as a contest after the 4th over of the KCJ innings as David Lashansky and Bloom batted intelligently to put on 36 as KCJ went on to reach 111.
Captain Iain Levy, who was the most succesful Pearl bowler with two wickets, said: "The competition has really has gone to another level this season and it is exciting for us to have such quality opponents.
"I was really impressed with the efforts of our team against Mumbai. They are a great team and really took the game to us. Unfortunately, we weren't able to keep up the intensity for a second game and credit to the Kiddush Club who took full advantage of the lapse we had. Whilst it is never good to lose, I know our team learnt a lot from the game and I am confident that we will put on a better showing if we meet later in the season.
"The season is still young and we have shown over the last three years, when it comes to the business end of the season, we really step up a level. I know the guys were disappointed in their performance and I am sure come the end of the season it will be a very big rematch."
Bloom was in good spirits, saying: "I'm very proud of the boys. Our performance was superb, a real team effort in all aspects of the game. We are happy to have won what we feel was the biggest game of the season. Compliments to Iain Levy and his PDCC Team, We thank them for the game and look forward to the next time."
The upcoming fixtures sees the always competitive KAT Israemploy Tigers play a double header against Pommeranz Juice and Bet Shemesh Braves. Pommeranz, who are sixth on the table can climb up to third with a big win, while newcomers, the Bet Shemesh Braves will be looking to be as competitive as possible.
Braves captain Herschel Gutman said: "This team comprises of the most talented junior players in Bet Shemesh - we are not expecting to win many games, but with the help of the fathers who will play alongside their sons, we will guide the young players along and give them every opportunity to excel at this level.
"These boys are the future and will go on to represent Israel one day, so this is a very exciting moment for the league."