Spain upset the rankings once again by beating their second associate team in as many matches with a gripping 4 wicket victory over previously unbeaten Israel. Israel won the toss and elected to bat, on the bottom pitch at La Manga.
Recent matches on this had seen low scoring affairs and so it proved once again, with Israel scoring only 109 from 47.4 of their 50 overs.Only 3 Israeli´s managed to get into double figures and the wides total of 22 runs was the second top score in their innings. Gabi Schachat, the players of the tournament in the Under 17 event in Germany last year top scored with 28 but when he was caught by Mahmood off the bowling of Spencer the final total just crept over three figures.
Tanveer Iqbal was the pick of the Spanish bowlers with 4 for 23 off 8.4 overs,and with 5 of the other bowlers chipping in with a wicket apiece the Spaniards looked favourites to win at the interval break.
Spain started their innings brightly enough until Shafique Ali holed out with the score on 13in the 4th over. Spencer soon followed, but a 40 wicket partnership between Pedro Venus and Jimmy Morgan settled the Spanish spectators nerves.
With the score on 58 Venus was caught behind from a rising ball from the Israeli captain Gutman, and when Howe joined Venus back in the pavillion in the same over without a run being added the Spanish nerves were jangling once more. Another telling partnership of 30 between Armaghan Khan and Morgan calmed the Spanish nerves somewhat, but with the fall of Khan and Wasim in quick succession there was renewed hope for the Israeli cause.
It was left to Morgan,unbeaten on 51, and teenager Christian Munoz to see the hosts home with 4 wickets and seven overs to spare. Due to a superior run rate Spain are now on top of the table, along with the Israeli´s and the Isle of Man on six points. Spain play the Isle of Man at Alfas tommorrow (Saturday) whilst Israel play Portugal tommorrow at La Manga with the results and possibly, run rate coming into play the tournament could not wish for a better climax to what has already been a fantastic competition.