European Cricket Trophy Bagged by Israeli Club

Israeli cricket champions Super Lions Lod topped a field of four competitors at the European Club tournament in Ipswich, United Kingdom, earlier this month. Yaniv Razpurker, on loan from Neve Yonatan, was man-of-the-match in the final against one of the local clubs.

• 'History was made,’ says cricket chief of Israel’s Maccabiah showing
• 'History was made,’ says cricket chief of Israel’s Maccabiah showing

Super Lions Lod, which won the Israel Cricket Association’s one-day Dudi Silbowitz trophy earlier this year, was also supplemented by Matan Razpurker from Neve Yonatan and Ilan Umerdekar from Lod Rangers.

The other three teams participating in the T20 tournament were Rome Capanelle from Italy, Copdock CC from Ipswich and local team Ipswich.

After beating local club Easton CC in the warmup, Super Lions Lod began the real business with a comfortable four-wicket win over Copdock, chasing down the 137 needed for victory.  Lions’ Anim Solomom won man-of-the-match honors for his bowling figures of four overs for nine runs, including a wicket. He also added 14 runs with the bat.

Rome Capanelle was next up for Lions. Rome's score of 110 was never going to challenge the powerful Lions batting line-up, as it chalked up its second victory in the tournament, again by four wickets. Yaniv Razurker took two wickets for 28 runs in his bowling spell, while Shalom Rubin was the man-of-the-match for his 33.

The next morning, having already secured its place in the semifinal. Lions played against Ipswich CC. Batting first, Lions managed only 106 runs in 20 overs. The drama continued until the second-to-last ball of the game, even though the result had no bearing on the semifinal line-up. In the end, the hosts won the match by three wickets.

The Rome Capanelle that the Lions faced in the semifinal was not the same team they had played the previous day, amassing 166 with the loss of just four wickets. Matan Razpurker was the pick of the bowlers, conceding only 18 runs and dismissing two of Rome's players. To make matters worse, Eshkol Solomon, who last month was named man-of-the-tournament in the Maccabiah cricket competition, was taken to hospital with a hand injury.

Anim Solomon was out in the first over, but Yefeth Nagavkar (36) and Shalom Rubin (22) kept the momentum up with a run rate of nine runs per over. With overs running out and the run rate climbing, it was left to a 98-run partnership by captain Isaac Massil (36 not out) and Yaniv Razpurker (65 not out) to take Lions into finals by seven wickets. Razpurker got the man-of-the-match award for his explosive batting.

The final pitted local team Copdock against Israel's champion. Copdock started well and was 70 for 1 after 10 overs. Massil threw the ball to Yefeth Nagavkar, who kept his captain's faith in him and took two consecutive wickets. Nagavkar almost had his first hat-trick, as the ball sailed past the vacant slip region. Eshkol Solomon with three wickets restricted Copdock to 146 for 7.

In reply, Yefeth Nagavkar (20) and Anim Solomon (19) gave Lions a brilliant start with 35 for none after five overs. Shortly after Anim went out, the score was 52 for 2 after nine overs. Yaniv Razpurker, the hero of the semifinal, again had to prove his excellence in front of the local crowd, which he did by putting together another great knock of 64 not out. He brought Lions home with the help of Massil (20) and Eshkol Solomon (10 not out).

In the end Razpurker was again declared man-of-the-match and Lions brought the trophy home.

Super Lions Lod, who are sitting on top of the local league, play Young Ashdod in the league this week.

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