Soffer heroics not enough for Firsts
A STERLING half-century from Maccabi AJAX batsman Mark Soffer was one of few shining lights in a frustrating weekend for the club, with the two teams that took to the field going down in their respective matches.
A STERLING half-century from Maccabi AJAX batsman Mark Soffer was one of few shining lights in a frustrating weekend for the club, with the two teams that took to the field going down in their respective matches.
Soffer’s knock of 52 wasn’t enough as the Firsts went down by eight wickets, while the Silver Arc Fourth XI also suffered a heavy defeat.
Maccabi’s top team was sent in to bat by the visiting Power House, in a match shortened to 35 overs per side.
The home team’s openers could not emulate their undefeated opening stand from the week before, losing Darren Bloch for five runs early on.
Soffer then took to the crease to join Brett Wiener and instantly began testing the opposition fielders.
He anchored the innings with a array of shots, combining with the three Wieners – Brett, Dean and Julien – as he kept the runs ticking over.
Brett was dismissed for 12, before Dean was sent packing on six with the hosts sitting at 3-63.
That brought Julien to the crease for Maccabi, but the veteran could only manage 10 runs.
It took a remarkable catch to remove Soffer shortly after he notched up his half-century, as the Firsts hit out towards the end of the innings to finish on 7-108.
The side struggled to mount an attack in the field, with spinner Dean Wiener’s wicket and a run out the only breakthroughs Maccabi could muster, as Power House reeled in the total with four overs to go.
Both the Seconds’ and the Thirds’ games were washed out.
The Silver Arc Fourth XI slumped to a heavy defeat against East Malvern Tooronga on Sunday, a horrific bat- ting collapse bringing about the side’s downfall.
Fourths skipper Ian Jones decided to field first and Maccabi did well to restrict its opponents to 8-151 after 45 overs.
Simon Fisher was the pick of the bowlers with 4-24, as the wily off-spinner sent down several unplayable deliveries.
In response, the Fourths capitulated to just 38 runs, with Ben Fisher (17 runs) the only Maccabi player to reach double figures.
AJN Staff
Photo: Peter Haskin