Cup holders Bury and Whitefield will play Manchester Maccabi in the NJCL Cup Final on September 6.
Manchester produced the shock of the season to deny unbeaten league leaders South Manchester the cup for another season. A victory by 31 runs saw Maccabi to their first final.
Opening pair Anthony Gellman (29) and Simon Jeffries (34) did most of the damage, putting on 82 for Maccabi’s first wicket. With Akiva Lieberman grabbing 3-37 runs, Maccabi set South a target of 160 to progress.
It was Maccabi’s young bowlers who stifled South, with a remarkable display of control. Adam Goldstone, Simon Blank and Andrew Williams each took two wickets at three an over or less and frustrated South’s strong batting line-up.
Shaya Rabinowitz looked good in making 31 but could not find a partner to build the partnership to break Maccabi’s resolve.
In the end, with two players unable to bat, South reached 129 leaving Maccabi the ecstatic victors.
Holders Bury beat Leeds by four wickets in a rain reduced match. A 25 over match saw Leeds win the toss and bat on a drying pitch.
Leeds were soon in trouble as Phil Collins fell for just five. Only captain, Daniel Goldsbrough (14), and Daniel Hirscowitz (10) reached double figures as Leeds struggled against the Bury attack.
Adam Schogger took 3-17 and Huddi Zaltser 2-9. With the help of 25 extras Leeds finished on 72 for 8.
In reply, Bury lost openers First And Saunders cheaply to set their nerves jangling but Mark Blackston, Shloime Wolfe and Natan
Fagleman edged them towards victory to secure Bury a second successive final.
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