SL Tel Aviv move top; Ra'anana edge out SL Jerusalem in 1-run thriller

Sri Lanka Tel Aviv moved top of the Division 1 table with a sixth win in seven matches, defeating Lod Rangers by 59 runs in Lod on Saturday. Sri Lanka Jerusalem's title hopes were dented as they fell one run short of their 163-run target against Ra'anana at Hadar Yosef, who managed to keep alive their hopes of a top four finish. In Division 2, Be'er Sheva defeated Dimona C by 79 runs in Dimona on Saturday.

Batting first the Sri Lankan Tel Aviv middle order, led by Menaka (51) helped rebuild the innings of Rangers had picked up two early wickets. 241 was always going to be a challenging target for the home side, and although they made a decent start, with all five of the top five batsmen reaching double figures, none were able to build on their starts, and with the lower folding without much fight, Rangers finished all out for 182.

A season which has already seen a tied match and a number of other very close finishes can now add a last-ball one-run finish to the records. Josh Evans (45) finally found some form for Ra'anana, who stumbled their way to 163 all out, Manju taking four for 30 for Jeruslaem. Probably a par score, Ra'anana needed early wickets to put their opponents under pressure, and despite a couple of dropped catches, Matt Hoffmann did pick up two early wickets. Evans and then picked up the crucial wicket of the hard-hitting Gayan (30), and although Manju (24) and Samith (42) rebuilt, the run rate continued to climb. Hoffmann returned for a final spell to claim both, leaving the new batsmen to knock off the final few runs required. Starting the final over needing 10 to tie which would have been enough for a win having lost less wickets, Hoffmann held his nerve, conceded only nine, to ensure his team the narrowest of wins.