Super Lod Lions pulled off an impressive victory at the European Club T20 tournament in Ipswich.
Winners of the Israel Cricket Associations one day Dudi Silbowitz trophy, the Lions team included Yaniv
Razpurker and Matan Razpurker from the Neve Yonatan team, while Elan Ilan Umerdekar from Lod Rangers made the trip to Ipswich where they were warmly received by the organisers.
After beating local club Easton CC in a warm-up match the real business started with a comfortable four-wicket win over Copdock, chasing down the 137 needed for victory.
SLL’s’ Anim Solomon won the man-of-the-match award for his bowling figures of four overs for nine runs, including a wicket. He also added 14 runs with the bat.
Shalom Rubin was the star performer in SLL’s’ second match as they beat Rome Capanelle of Italy. Rome’s score of 110 did not challenge the powerful SLL batting line up as they cantered home by four wickets. Yaniv Razpurker (2-28) impressed with the ball.
With a place in the semi-finals already secured, defeat against Ipswich CC mattered little in a game where SLL posted 106. Ipswich won by three wickets off the penultimate ball of the match.
The last four match against Rome Capanelle was a close-run affair, with the Italians posting a testing 166-4 from their 20 overs. Matan Razpurker was the pick of the SLL bowlers. He conceded only 18 runs and claiming two wickets.
SLL’s hopes were dealt a blow when Eshkol Solomon, Israel’s man of the tournament at the 19th Maccabiah Games, was taken to hospital with a hand injury.
The Lions recovered from the early departure of Anim Solomon, with Yefeth Nagavkar (36) and Shalom Rubin (22) maintaining a healthy rate of nine runs an over.
And it was left to captain Isaac Massil (36 not out) and Yaniv Razpurker (65 not out) to put on a crucial 98-run partnership to steer SLL home by seven wickets.
Razpurker received the top player accolade for his explosive performance with the bat.
In the final, Copdock CC raced to 70-1 after 10 overs but Nagavkar changed the course of the game with two wickets in two balls. He missed out on a possible hat-trick as the ball flew through the vacant slip area.
Eshkol Solomon claimed three wickets as SLL were set 147 for victory.
Yefeth. Nagavkar (20) and Anim Solomon (19) helped SLL make an excellent start with 35 runs coming off the first five overs, but it was man-of-the-match Razpurker who took the game away from Copdock with an unbeaten 64. Massil (20) and Solomon added valuable runs as SLL held their nerve to lift the trophy.
The Israeli Day League leaders return to domestic action this week when they take on Young Ashdod.
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