CRICKET A superb knock of 75 from guest player Benny Wolpe helped Chigwell & Hainault Synagogue claim a 69-run victory over Belmont & Edgware 2nd.
A partnership of 45 in eight overs between stand-in Chigwell captain Matt Murray (31) and Nigel Katseph set up a solid base. Wolpe and Nigel Katseph (36 not out) turned the screw with a partnership of 147 as Chigwell closed on 197.
Veteran Stuart Kaye made early inroads into the BECC top-order with Benjy Myers taking a smart catch at square leg. Kaye (3-18) and Ethan Ezra (3-33) ensured that BECC did not get away. Captain Ryan Monk added 33 including a straight six but he was removed by debutant Yonah Goldschmidt as BECC were dismissed for out for 128.
London Maccabi Vale 2nd kept alive their promotion hopes and in doing so, dented MAL's aspirations following a seven-wicket victory in Division Three of the Middlesex Sunday League.
Simon Renshaw got LMV off to a flyer, taking a wicket in the first over. But a classy innings of 80 not out from Yoav Lebens helped MAL reach 174 with LMV captain Jonathan Lederman and Andrew Greenwall-Cohen bagging three wickets apiece.
Lebens picked up two wickets early in the LMV reply but a fourth wicket partnership of 141 between David Freedman (87) and Daniel Caplan (37) in 15 overs swung the match in LMV's favour.
Belmont & Edgware 1st fell narrowly short of beating Kensington & Chelsea in the Middlesex League.
Gideon Restan took four wickets for the second consecutive week before breaking his finger as BECC dismissed the west Londoners for 180. The returning Oli Simons and skipper Ashley Connick picked up three wickets each. Dan Abrahams, Simons and Jonny Kay made useful contributions but none of them were able to push on as BECC lost by 22 runs.