At a quarter to four with the shadows lengthening across the Hadar Yosef Stadium, the sun going down with its expected predictability, the 2001 Israel cricket season finally came to an end.

There is always something sad about the end of another season. No more tension while you wait to go out and bat; no more comeradarie for another 6 months; no more ecstacy when you take a brilliant one handed diving catch in front of first slip; nor the most holy of all feelings - on reaching a sacrisant hundred.

Each game always provided a special hero. A five wicket haul, 3 great catches or the smiting of a huge six hooked over mid wicket. Soccer fans will cheer for 4 hours after a special victory, but cricketers will check the score books for years to come. Arguements will ensue regarding who was the greatest batsman and who was the quickest bowler of them all.

Some players will reflect on the season gone by, feel the aches and pains and ask themselves was it really worth it. Spending all those Saturdays in the boiling heat and humidity of the Israeli summers. Of course it was worth it when you look at the new silver trophy on top of the mantlepiece.

Under an overcast sky, with heavy rain on Saturday morning causing the outfield to be soaked Tel Aviv and Lions Lod played out what was to be the finale of the 2001 season.

Lions Lod were defending their title, looking for their 5th straight league win. Their team included no fewer than 5 current Israeli players. Tel Aviv could only boast two former captains, both enjoying the twilight of their playing careers. In addition Tel Aviv were missing their key player Gamini who was on vacation in Sri Lanka.

Herschel Gutman, TA captain, won the toss and elected to bat. Steve Leigh, fresh from his match winning knock of 76 against Ashdod in the previous round, was soon gone for 8, but Dani Malyinkar (104) and Gary Blum (32) put on 117 for the 2nd wicket in just 15 overs. Malyinkar, currently serving in the IDF, scored his maiden league century with 11 fours and 4 sixes. In his first season with Tel Aviv, he scored over 300 runs at an average of 50. Blum, a former Gauteng Nuffield cricketer, showed all the hallmarks of a class cricketer, guiding Malyinkar along. The Tel Aviv middle order added 65 runs, but it was left to Stanley Perlman (25*) and Mike Momblatt to add a vital 20 runs for the 7th wicket. Gershon Massil claimed 4/38 while all the other bowlers were unable to acclimatise themselves to the wet ball. Israel quick bowler Isaac Massil never bowled, reportedly suffering from back problems. With rain reducing the innings to 33 overs, Tel Aviv reached 229/6.

Avner Greenberg is hardly a threatening opening bowler, but as he has done so often over the season, he claimed two early wickets as the Lod innings got off to a spectacular start. Mahendra Jaiswar and Salomon Waskar both fell victim to the seemingly harmless slow bowling of Greenberg. Lod skipper, Yefet Nagavkar (29) and Isaac Massil (86) began to repair the damage, adding 83 for the 3rd wicket, until Greenberg returned to have Nagavkar caught by Momblatt at backward point. Anim Salomon contributed 18 before being brilliantly caught by Leigh behind the wicket off Gutman. Isaac Massil was dropped at mid wicket in the very same over, and with the stylish batsman playing a superb innings, and just 64 needed off 10 overs, it seemed to be a costly miss. But with the game there for the taking, Perlman returned into the attack, getting Massil brilliantly caught by Gutman at mid wicket off his second ball. Perlman wound his way through the tail, finishing with 3 wickets, as Lod could only manage 209/9 off their 33 overs.

Credit must go to the umpires, Naor Gudker (Israel's only umpire with international experience) and Benzie Kahimkar, who ensured the game was played in a commendable fashion.

For Tel Aviv it was a truly momentous season. 5 players averaged over 40 with the bat, with Perlman (60) and Malyinkar (50) both notching averages above 50.

© Israel Cricket Association