The long-awaited top of the table clash between current leaders Lions Lod and defending champions Tel Aviv played at Hadar Yosef on Saturday turned into a bit of an anti-climax, with both teams fielding depleted sides that were missing key players.

Having won the toss and decided to bat, Tel Aviv got off to a very good start as captain Hershell Gutman (19) and Perera (38) added 66 for the first wicket.

Frank Auger (20) and Mike Momblatt (25) continued the good work in taking the total past 100, but when both were out one after the other with the score on 113, the middle order crumbled and 113/2 became 117 all out.

Yefet Nagavkar was the pick of the Lod bowlers, finishing with three wickets.

The Lod reply was led by Nagavkar and David Massil. Nagavkar (15) was undone by a short ball from Perera, while Massil, having played very fluently in scoring 25, fell lbw to Gutman. Although Perera picked up a second wicket, to have Lod in slight trouble, Gershon Massil and Anim Solomon, who both finished not out on 20, successfully steered their team to victory, and cement their place on top of the Division 1 standings.

In the weekend's other game, Ashdod A continued its winning streak with a convincing 166-run win over visitors Be'er Sheva.

Captain Hillel Awasker top scored with 45 as Ashdod A reached 220, to which Be'er Sheva, which struggled all day in the conditions, could only reply with 56 all out.

© ISR