ICC/CricketEurope

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It was always going to be a tough match, but Italy staged a remarkable recovery against Israel at JHQ2 on Wednesday, and went on to win fairly comfortably by 51 runs.

A very different outcome seemed probable when some sustained seam bowling from Levy Divekar, Itamar Kehimkar, Gabi Schachat and Shalom Kristi had reduced the Italians to 50 for six in less than twenty overs.

But they were rescued by a splendid counter-attack from Abdur Rahman Bhuiyan, batting at number eight, who fearlessly took the bowlers on and hit a 49-ball 56, including five fours and two sixes.

Assisted first by Alessandro Merlo and then by Ameen Nazar, he lifted the score from 50 to 132, and after he finally departed, caught by Rafi Schachat off the bowling of brother Gabi, Nazar and Chandimal Raigamage put on another 44 in an undefeated last-wicket stand which put the Italians in the box seat.

Kristi took three for 20 for Israel, while Divekar and Schachat picked up two each.

If the Israeli pace attack is persistent, the Italian version is downright hostile, and Roshandra Abeywickrama and Dylan Sarnelli soon had their opponents in all kinds of trouble.

Only Gabi Schachat, who has been the backbone of the Israeli batting all week, looked able to hold his own, and when he was seventh out with the total on 94, any faint hope that his side might have had was finally extinguished. The later batsmen managed to get the score up to 125, but the issue had been settled long before.

Abeywickrama claimed two for 11 from seven overs, Sarnelli two for 27 from eight, and Raigamage two for 28.

The Isle of Man took on Germany at Bonn and reversed the result of their first match by winning by ten wickets over a German team who did not perform at anything near to their potential.

The Germans won the toss and decided to bat and from the word go they were on the defensive as the Isle of Man bowlers swung the ball. One could count on the fingers of one hand the number of offensive strokes the Germans were able to muster against a varied bowling attack.

It was as though the Germans had decided to wait for the Isle of Man bowlers to bowl a wide – which gives two runs – and therefore minimise the risk of being caught. The Germans offered little resistance as they were bowled out for 127 of which 89 were extras. Alex Stokoe took 4 for 18 for the Manxmen.

In contrast the Isle of Man weren't pushed onto the defensive, but waited for the bad ball which was duly punished. Jack Rowlands and Alex Stokoe hit 81 runs from the bat including one six out of the ground from a full toss from leg spinner Mohsan Hayat who was duly punished for 36 runs in his three overs. The Isle of Man reached the German total in only 24 overs.

With today's result the Germans look more likely to end up playing to avoid last place on Friday, while the Isle of Man, who have completed their group programme, seem likely to finish third in Group A.