MIDDLESEX SUNDAY CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Maccabi Association London sunday 59-10
North London Muslims CC 62-5
MAL lost by 5 wickets

MAL were left to reflect on what might have been after a chastening afternoon against North London Muslims at Camdenians.

NLM skipper Maaz Haffeji won the toss and opted to ask MAL to have a bat on a very soft, green surface. MAL, who had beaten London Maccabi Vale last weekend, were in trouble straight away when a length ball jumped off a length to graze Mark Landau's thumb, giving Haffeji his first wicket.

Kev Venter followed in the next over, bowled by Miller for 4. Joe Williams and Yoav Lebens looked to be rebuilding nicely, but some very poor judgement from Lebens saw Williams run out by yards.

The fall of the third wicket prompted a catastrophic collapse, as Sherrard, Newman, Traub and Mer all went for 0.

Gav Lebens joined his brother with the score at 21-7 and they put on the best partneship of the match, 30, with Gav looking aggressive. He pulled a four off Miller and drilled him back over his head for six. Yoav looked relatively untroubled amidst all the carnage, but couldn't find anyone to stay with him for long.

Gav's was the eighth wicket to fall with the score at 51, bowled by Haffeji for 12. Debutant Darren Witcoop could only last two balls, his dismissal giving Haffeji his fifth wicket. Yoav looked to try and boost the total but perished trying to hit out against Irfan Tai for a gritty 25.

MAL's total was obviously sub-par, but truth be told, 100 would probably have been in the game on that wicket, and it should have been attained.

At least a little fight was shown by the bowlers, with Grant Traub and Charlie Sherrard particularly impressive.

Traub took the first wicket, Gav Lebens holding a good catch on the run at gulley after a leading edge from Aamir.

Rizwan was caught and bowled by Sherrard with the score at 21, and when Sherrard trapped Nash with NLM only just at the half way mark, MAL sensed a sniff of a chance.

However the fielding was belowpar as several chances failed to go to hand and runs were leaked due to poor ground fielding.

Michael Klinger took the fourth wicket, another LBW, before Sherrard bowled Faisal for 8, with 12 still required.

MAL failed to make further inroads as NLM eased past their target with 17 overs to spare.

MAL vice-captain Mark Landau said: "It was a very disappointing performance by MAL, but North London Muslims were very strong, possessing as they do two superb opening bowlers who play Premier League level cricket on Saturdays.

"Much will need to improve before next week's crucial league match against SKLP."

Scoreboard
MAL 59 (17.4 overs) Yoav Lebens 25, Haffeji 5-20, Miller 3-35
North London Muslims 62-5 (23 overs) Sherrard 3-14