Michael Klinger in action. Photo: Courtesy Adelaide Advertiser

ADAM KAMIEN

SOUTH Australian batsman Michael Klinger has been named the State Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Won the award at the Allan Border Medal presentation at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Monday night.

The 29-year-old won the award at the Allan Border Medal presentation at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium last week where he finished with 36 votes, seven clear of his closest rival Chris Rogers on 29, with former teammate at the Bushrangers Brad Hodge two further back on 28.

Klinger has enjoyed a sparkling season to date, and is the second leading run-getter in the Sheffield Shield.

“I made a big effort after last season to back it up again and not be a one-year wonder and that was one of my determinations this season. And so far, so good,” Klinger told The AJN.

But it was a tumultuous start to the season, with Klinger dropped for the Redbacks’ first limited overs game and scoring a first-ball duck on his return.
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AJAX skipper Dave Gelbart in action last season. Photo: AJN file

SIMON MORAWETZ

THE Maccabi AJAX First XI is on the brink of defeat after day one of its contest against Murrumbeena, following a disappointing showing with the bat.

At the close of play, Murrumbeena was just 16 runs from victory with eight wickets in hand, chasing the visitors’ 144.

But there were positive signs for the future, with debutant Devan Spilkin impressing in his first outing for the team. Batting down the order, Spilkin crafted an unbeaten 32, the highest score for the side.

Former Maccabi AJAX batsman Troy Lamb put his old side to the sword, crashing 77 not out from just 88 deliveries to put Murrumbeena in the box seat.

The First XI won the toss in its match at Murrumbeena and elected to bat, but when opener Bloch was trapped in front, a collapse followed.

Reeling at 4-28, the Firsts rallied through David Fayman and skipper Dave Gelbart, who added 25 for the fifth wicket. David Majtlis (21) and Gelbart (11) combined for a 14-run stand before the skipper was out, bringing Spilkin to the crease. Justin Kramersh made a useful 18, but Murrumbeena needed just 53 overs to skittle the Firsts.
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AJAX cricketers in action. Photo: AJN file

SIMON MORAWETZ

THE Maccabi AJAX First XI returned from its mid-season break in disappointing fashion, offering no resistance to Beaumaris in its one-day encounter in Melbourne on the weekend.

Rowan Bricker’s knock of 11 was Maccabi AJAX’s top score, as the Firsts battled to avoid an outright defeat.

The First XI lost the toss and was sent in to bat against an attack featuring a former Victorian paceman. Things got off to a bad start when opener David Majtlis edged one behind, and they got worse when his brother Brad left the ball onto his stumps.

When David Fayman was dismissed by a mercurial catch at gully, the score was 6-33.

The procession of batsmen continued with no-one able to make a start. Bricker was the only player to reach double figures, as the Firsts collapsed for just 59.
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First XI skipper Dave Gelbart shows his bowling style. Photo: AJN file

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.
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First XI skipper Dave Gelbart shows his bowling style. Photo: AJN file

SIMON MORAWETZ

THE Maccabi AJAX First XI has its sights on a third-straight win after a strong showing with the ball on day one of its match against Brighton District in Melbourne.

Except for a frustrating partnership late in the day, the Firsts, led by yet another five-wicket haul from skipper Dave Gelbart, dominated to restrict Brighton District to 9-196.

The Firsts got off to the best possible start, removing both openers cheaply. They kept up the intensity to have Brighton reeling at 6-81.

A solid partnership pushed the score beyond 120, before the next wicket triggered another collapse, during which the side lost three wickets for just 12 runs.

But Brighton defied the odds to bat out their overs and Maccabi AJAX was left to rue a missed opportunity.
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First XI skipper Dave Gelbart shows his bowling style. Photo: AJN file

SIMON MORAWETZ

FIRST XI captain Dave Gelbart brought Port Melbourne to its knees with a stunning five-wicket haul on the first day of the match.

Gelbart’s was one of several excellent performances that has Maccabi AJAX in a strong position in the match, which resumes on Saturday November 7.

Port Melbourne was all out for a modest 119 with Maccabi AJAX at 1-45 at the end of the day.

Gelbart won the toss for his side’s home clash against Port Melbourne and sent the visitors in.

It proved a smart move early on, with a spate of top-order wickets leaving the batting side at 5-50. Gelbart was in top form, and finished with the outstanding figures of 5-42.

He had important assistance from Hayden Lipsitz (2-13 from eight overs) and Brad Majtlis, who took two fantastic close-in catches.
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Australian bowler Dylan Weiner in action in the Maccabiah Games match against South Africa. Photo: Peter Haskin

DANIEL GARB

A DEVASTATING batting display from Israel has relegated Australia into fourth place in the open cricket competition at the Maccabiah Games after scoring a 50-run victory.

Batting first, Israel attacked a wayward Aussie bowling attack to compile a mammoth total of 9/243. Spinner Dave Majtlis was the best of the Aussie bowlers with 3/46, Adam Zemski took two wickets while Dean Beissel, Brett Joffe and Dylan Weiner each claimed one wicket.

The bowling attack failed to take wickets in quick succession or stem the fast paced scoring from the home nation, meaning the target would always be a difficult one for the batsmen to reach.
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Australian bowler Adam Zemski in action in the Maccabiah Games match against South Africa. Photo: Peter Haskin

DANIEL GARB IN LOD

AUSTRALIA’S cricket team lost to India on Friday in another inconsistent display and will have to rely on other results just to play off for a bronze medal in the Maccabiah Games. On Thursday, the cricketers could do no wrong in their demolition of Great, but the Indian side had proved already with a solid showing against South Africa that they were no mugs.

And with the Australian battling line-up throwing away wickets all too easily, their total of 156 always seemed too low as a target.

Brad Majtlis carried on from where he left off against the Brits, striking the new ball cleanly to get the Aussies off to a quick start.

However, brother David Majtlis went cheaply and when Brad then fell for 27, no-one else was able to dominate the bowling.

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Australian bowler Dylan Weiner in action in the Maccabiah Games match against South Africa. Photo: Peter Haskin

DANIEL GARB

THE Australian cricket team is much like a yo-yo at the moment, up one day down the next but they picked the perfect match to fire - destroying Great Britain by 123 runs in their clash on July 16 and restoring their chances of playing off in the gold medal game. A win over India on July 17 will all but secure that with the demolition of the Brits boosting their net run rate.

A century opening stand from Victorian brothers David and Brad Majtlis inspired the victory and helped Australia post a total of 216, the largest of the tournament so far.

It was then up to the bowlers to do the rest and with the controversial run out of captain Brett Rosen motivating the side in the field - they ripped through a brittle British outfit for just 93. It was backs to the wall stuff from Australia.

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Australian bowler Adam Zemski in action in the Maccabiah Games match against South Africa. Photo: Peter Haskin

DANIEL GARB

AFTER an encouraging performance against South Africa, Australia’s cricketers have suffered a shock loss to Israel. Bowling first, the Aussie pacemen were far too erratic, conceding 48 wides which ended up being more than the final difference between the teams.

David Fayman was again the best of the bowlers claiming 4 wickets, while spinner Dave Majtlis took three wickets to dismiss Israel for 172. It was a total the Aussie batsmen had expected to reach, but another top order collapse made the task too difficult for the tail achieve.

Fayman is making a strong claim as Australia’s player of the tournament, top scoring with 59 while Adam Zemski was the next best contributor with 13 in a poor Australian total of 130.
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