ICC/CricketEurope

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The Isle of Man bounced back from their disastrous start to the tournament by stifling a strong challenge from France, but the most sensational events of Sunday occurred in Bochum, where Israel finished level with Germany in circumstances verging on the bizarre.

The rain which swept across North Rhine Westphalia overnight and on Sunday morning suggested that the odds were against any play, but the ground drained surprisingly well at it was possible to start a 31-over match at 13:50. This was later reduced to 30 overs after another short stoppage.

Germany won the toss and decided to bat first. And from the word go the Germans knew that they had to steal every run possible on a wet ground where the ball wouldn’t roll.

It took a while for the Israelis to find their mark but when they did the Germans began to lose wickets at regular intervals in their hunt for runs. However, Manishi Mathur came in when six were down for 83 and injected momentum into the innings with boundaries in a quickfire 29 before being bowled.

The Germans’ rush for runs in the final over cost three wickets giving Gil Nojman the best bowling analysis with 3 for 5. Germany were all out for 130 two balls before the scheduled end of their innings.

Israel got off to a bad start, losing a wicket almost immediately when Nojman was caught. Soon after Korman followed and the Germans were on top, taking wickets regularly including a run-out with a runner.

Israel were in tatters at 50 for seven, but they didn’t give up. In true Botham style Eitamar Kehimkar created a counterattack which included two sixes over long on. Supported by Gilon Samuel and later Jordan Talkar, Kehimkar put the pressure back on the Germans who suddenly were pleased if they got a dot ball.

Israel crept closer and closer and the excitement grew as the home spectators cheered every dot ball. With one over to go Israel needed 6 to win. They scored a two, a bye and then a single, a dot ball, another dot ball leaving Kehimkar to score two to win off the last ball.

The ball was hit past mid on and they ran one and went for the second getting in without problem with bats raised high. The whole team came charging onto the field, thinking they had won – but it soon died down when the square-leg umpire was seen to have his hand on shoulder, calling one short.

So the scores finished level, which under other playing conditions, might have been a tie. But the tournament regulations provide that when the totals are the same it is the side which lost the fewer wickets which takes the points, and that was Israel. Kehimkar deservedly won the Man of the Match award for his not-out innings of 52.

If the match at JHQ2 fell short of such drama, it nevertheless had its own remarkable features.

Having been bowled out for 52 on Saturday, the Manxmen courageously elected again to bat first, and brothers Max and Alex Stokoe gave an almost-perfect response to the previous day’s catastrophe, putting on more than three times as many runs in their opening partnership as the entire side had scored against Italy.

Alex was the more aggressive of the pair, making 85 off 120 balls, the wetness of the outfield no doubt contributing to the fact that he hit only three boundaries. Max made 59 from 101 balls, with just one four.

The brothers departed within four balls of each other in the penultimate over of the innings, bowled by Usman Khan, triggering a mini-collapse with Luke Lacey and Richard Foden falling to successive balls from Shahzeb Mohammed at the other end.

The Manx total of 187 for four was perhaps a little lower than they might have hoped for, but their opening attack of Daniel Hawke and Lacey proved sharp enough to keep the French batsmen quiet for a long time.

Even so, after the loss of an early wicket Robin Murphy and Usman Khan took the score to 80 before they were separated by a run-out.

Thereafter wickets fell steadily as the French batsmen struggled to up the scoring rate against a generally accurate Manx attack, Sam Walker the main beneficiary with three for 28.

The task was too great, however, and despite a defiant 26-ball 25 not out from Tom Liddiard France closed on 153 for eight, 35 runs short of their target.

Group A is now wide open, and France’s clash with Italy in Bonn on Monday is likely to be of vital importance. The Isle of Man will face Israel at JHQ1, with hosts Germany, with one point from two matches so far, having a rest day.