Maccabi-AJAX advance after extraordinary tied semi
They headed into last Sunday’s Mercantile Cricket Association Sunday A Grade semi-final versus the Indigos as confident minor premiers.
But the late withdrawal of key Maccabi-AJAX First XI players Josh and Benji Jones, due to COVID isolation, followed by a slow start punctuated by a mini batting collapse, meant the match was suddenly destined to go down to the wire.
And it did … in fact, the result at Gary Smorgon Oval was extremely rare in cricket – a tie!
But it was just enough for Maccabi-AJAX to progress to this Sunday afternoon’s grand final against Carnegie, to be played at the same venue, Maccabi-AJAX’s home ground, from 12.15pm.
Relieved team captain Zak Fleisher-Sharbanee told The AJN on Monday, “I’d never played in a tied match before – losing last year’s grand final by one wicket at the death was probably the closest match I’ve experienced.
“But we knew a tie would get us into the grand final, so there was a huge celebration within our team after the game.”
Batting first, Maccabi began poorly, losing 4 cheap wickets, while only scoring about 60 runs in the first 30 overs.
They needed an anchor, and it was opener Nick Gross, whose determined and extremely patient, unbeaten knock of 65 runs off 138 deliveries, lasted just over three hours.
A crucial 29 runs by number 6 batter Aaron Fetter, and a very handy 11 by tailender Josh Rotstein, saw Maccabi-AJAX reach 7/142 in their allotted 45 overs.
“Batting was tough going, but Nick did exactly the job we needed, and considering everything, we were pretty happy with 142,” said Fleisher-Sharbanee.
The chase saw an even contest between bat and ball throughout, with Benji Gore stepping up to take 3/18, while young guns Lior Meyerowitz and Rotstein took 2 wickets each.
With scores tied in the 41st over, and the Indigos nine wickets down, but only needing one run to win, Meyerowitz – who in the morning had played in an U17s semi-final – unexpectedly bowled a full toss to the Indigos’ number 11.
Surprised, the batter went for it, but hit it straight in the air, resulting in a simple catch by Rotstein, and massive relief for Maccabi-AJAX.
“Benji [Gore] bowled beautifully, straight and at a good length, and his second spell resulted in key wickets,” said Fleisher-Sharbanee.
“Rotstein can get the ball to spin on any pitch he plays on, and young Lior [Meyerowitz] was able to take that last wicket – with a full toss!”
If they win the decider this Sunday, it will earn Maccabi-AJAX its first top grade men’s premiership since 1969.
Fleisher-Sharbanee said his team has beaten Carnegie twice this season, “but they are a very good side that we have to play our best to beat”.
“I don’t think I’ll need to say anything special to our guys beforehand, because I know that everyone really, really wants it [a premiership win] and knows it would mean so much to our club and our supporters,” he said.
Head coach Greg Hurvitz added the team showed “great resilience” in the semi in the absence of the Jones brothers, but will need to improve their batting in the decider.
“I thought our fielding was excellent in building pressure – stopping boundaries and turning 2s into 1s – and I think that kept us believing in those final overs,” said Hurvitz.
“We’re excited about the final, and we’ll be back at full strength, so it will be about just trying to keep the emotion out of it during the match as much as possible, and just focus on performing at our best.”
Meanwhile in the C South grade semi-final, also last Sunday, the Maccabi-AJAX Third XI – who had a strong finish to the regular season – fell short against Carnegie, who set a daunting target of 203 due to a classy 87 not out by Amanpreet Singh.
In reply, Maccabi-AJAX were all out for 128, with Jeremy Hoppe top-scoring with 27 runs.
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