Club News

Back to News

Batting woes cost Maccabi

Posted: 17-Oct-2018 by Cricket Senior

Batting woes cost Maccabi

A middle order batting collapse cost the Maccabi Ajax Cricket Club victory against Clayton District on Sunday.  

The visitors were lead for the first time by Eytan Epstein, fielding a side with five changes from the previous weekend.

Clayton District cashed on the ideal batting conditions after they won the toss, scoring freely in the opening 10 overs of the match.

Jake Jones (3-13) wrestled back the momentum for his side, bowling 9 overs straight in a brilliant individual performance.

Corey Zielinski (0-22) converted a sharp run out chance off his own bowling as Clayton took drinks at 4-77.

Shmuli Rosenbaum (3-57) thrived as his side’s lead spinner, claiming three crucial wickets in Clayton’s middle order.

Opening bowlers Josh Jones (1-28) and Bailey Melzak (1-34) helped clean up the tail as Clayton were bowled out for 174.

Despite a promising start to the chase, Maccabi’s middle order capitulated in challenging conditions, losing 7 wickets for just 25 runs.

Levi Rosenbaum (24) and Ben Machlin (19) dug in to help move their side to a respectable total, but the damage had already been done as Maccabi were bowled out for 114.


The loss soured what was a highly successful weekend for the club, with the 2nd and 3rd XI’s both claiming comprehensive victories.

2nd XI captain Dov Paltiel continued his rich vein of form, claiming 3 wickets and hitting 38 runs in his side’s 6-wicket win over Parkville District.

He was well supported by rising star Nicki Gross, who also claimed 3 wickets and scored an unbeaten 20 runs in the chase.


The highlight of the weekend belonged to 3rd XI captain Sam Brygel.

Opening the batting, Brygel played a simply remarkable innings, notching an unbeaten score of 140 in his side’s total of 5-277 from 45 overs. The score is the second highest individual total in the history of the club.

Brygel was well supported by Amir Meyerowitz (44) and Alon Esterman (40).

Eli Barr (2-5) helped restrict Flemington Colts to 8-110 to secure a memorable win for Maccabi.



1st XI - Clayton District CC 174 (Ja Jones 3/13, S Rosenbaum 3/57) def Maccabi AJAX 114  (L Rosenbaum 24, B Machlin)

2nd XI -Parkville District 120  (D Paltiel 3/15, N Gross 3/31) def by Maccabi AJAX
5/121 (D Paltiel 38, Z Aaron 36)

3rd XI Maccabi AJAX 5/277(cc) (S Brygel 140* A Meyerowitz 44 A Esterman 40) def Flemington Colts 8/110(cc) (E Barr 2/5, N Moskow 2/15)