The two ICA youth competitions being run through the summer holidays continued over the past week. On Wednesday, Ashdod defeated a Negev X1 in an U15 match played in sweltering conditions in Dimona. The Ashdod team then hosted Ra'anana on Thursday, where the visitors ran out winners by 14 runs in an exciting game.

Ra'anana, batting first, reached 140 in their 35 overs, due mainly to the contributions of captain Gal Matz (55) and Dani Hotz (35).

The Ashdod run chase began in express mode, as Shmuel Moses and Yaniv Raspurker took the score to 56/2 after 10 overs. The momentum could not however be continued as wickets began to fall, but Ra'anana would only have felt safe of victory when Raspurker was brilliantly run out with a direct hit from mid-wicket by Hotz for a very well played 56.

The U13 league resumed on Sunday, with a combined Ashdod / Dimona team (78/2) beating Ra'anana (49) by 29 runs.

© ISR