Belmont & Edgware Cricket Club

The final Maccabi league match day eventually arrived. The standings showed that both Belmont & Edgware's sides needed to pull off a victory and this meant that a number of 1st team regulars had to make an appearance in the 2nds.

BECC 1st lost the toss and were put into the field. Newlands & Northwood got off to a flying start with Paul Durban showing some very classy cricket supported by Alan Trope. There were a few dubious LBW decisions going against all appeals by BECC and a dropped slip catch which helped Durban onto 103 when he was caught at deep midwicket by Gideon Restan taking it brilliantly.

Wickets started to fall regularly with Alex Haffner the only other batsman to contribute with 40 runs and BECC did well to restrict them to 215/9 in the rain reduced 38 overs. Excellent spells by Eddie Davis, Richard Ableson and Gideon Restan kept things tight and the total achievable.

BECC took to bat and lost 3 early wickets for just 50 runs and although news of the 2nds out for 69 and therefore the result purely moral, the team remained positive in their efforts for victory. At this point the rate required was around 7 an over. Wienburg joined Jonny Wymbourne at the crease and together they pushed the total to over 150. Wienburg eventually fell for 58 soon after pulling the quickie Ryan Kangisser literally out of the park and over the river for 6.

The rest of the BECC batsman all contributed to keep the run rate up and with 13 required in the last over with 9 wickets down, Trevor Woolf helped the team onto an incredible victory with just one ball to spare. Jonny Wymbourne finished on an unbeaten and match winning 48.

This was one of the most incredible Jewish cricket matches encountered with over 400 runs and 18 wickets in a day's play and a last minute snatch of glory from the jaws of defeat.

Well played to both Newlands & Northwood and Belmont & Edgware who are looking forward to a Stuart Neils quarter final this weekend and a play-off competition match soon after.