SIMON MORAWETZ

THE Maccabi AJAX First XI fell agonisingly short of victory with Cheltenham clinching the win with just two wickets in hand.

A brilliant bowling performance from skipper Dave Gelbart, who snared 4-37 from his 24 overs -– including a staggering 12 maidens -– wasn’t enough to get the Firsts across the line in the last game before the break on December 19.

All-rounder David Fayman (2-20) was the only other multiple wicket-taker.

In a thrilling finish to the hard-fought contest in Melbourne, the Firsts needed three wickets, while Cheltenham needed 15 runs.

Gelbart got the breakthrough for his side, but it was the visitors that prevailed with a stubborn ninth-wicket stand that went on to post 42 runs.

Cheltenham resumed on 3-23, needing 135 for victory. A wicket to Gelbart and a freakish catch to David Majtlis, which rebounded off a close infielder, lifted the home side. Fayman then snared two wickets in an over to have Cheltenham reeling at 6-69.

Majtlis had another wicket just after the lunchbreak, but it wasn’t to be for the Firsts, which could only watch as Cheltenham went on to register 169.

With 27 overs left in the day, Rowan Bricker showed class and resolve with an unbeaten 32, as the Maccabi AJAX side finished on 5-85.

The Second XI suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Cheltenham, losing outright. Having already conceded first-innings points on day one, after being dismissed for a paltry 75, the side followed up with an even worse performance in its second dig, posting just 66.

Darren Bloch (31) and Jason Webb (13) looked solid early, progressing the score to 2-40, but Webb’s wicket sparked a collapse from which the side never emerged.

The Seconds needed to dismiss their opposition for under 54 runs to get the points, but Cheltenham, needed  just 16 overs to record a massive win.

The Third XI secured a convincing home win against McKinnon. Resuming at 3-71 and needing just 37 more runs to win, the Thirds passed the required score and kicked on to a healthy 7-181 before declaring for a chance at an outright win. The visitors saw out the day on 4-73.

The Fourth XI crashed to an outright defeat at McKinnon. With a lead of 101, McKinnon declared at the start of the day and managed to bowl the Fourths out for 103. Adam Wiser (20) and Tim Fone (18) were the standout performers with the bat.

In its second innings, McKinnon chased down the three runs required for outright victory.

The First XI plays Melbourne High School Old Boys on Saturday, January 9, at 1pm at Gary Smorgon Oval (Melway: 57 K6).