Lions Lod, so dominant over recent years, regained the Dudi Silbowitz trophy, after a three year wait, winning the Division 1 title with a comprehensive 85-run win over defending champions Young Ashdod, the one team with a mathematical chance of challenging them.
In Ashdod on Saturday. Batting first, all the Lions batsmen made a start, with Shailesh Bangerra top scoring with 38 not out, and Shalom Rubin (37) and Yefet Nagavkar (31) also important contributions on the way to 196 for 6 in their 40 overs.
In reply, the Massil brothers Isaac and David shared five wickets between them, as the hosts struggled to put together a partnership of note; the eighth wicket stand of 26 the highest of the innings, dismissed for 111. Although one round of matches remain, Lions, having won eight of their nine games through the season making them most worthy champions, can already begin the celebrations.