Somerset West Cricket Club (SWCC) snatched a last-ball victory in a thrilling Division 1B fixture against second-placed Altius United Cricket Club at the Alan Olsen Oval (Radloff Park) on Saturday (11 February).
The home side won the toss and decided to field in perfect cricketing conditions. The hosts got an early breakthrough, but inconsistent bowling throughout the innings let United CX off the hook and they took advantage, eventually ending their innings on a very defendable 205.
Gouws Koen (2/25) and Wiehann Meyer (2/38) were SWCC’s best bowlers.
Somerset West started their chase with discipline as Jan Rademan and Jan Punt shared a 63-run partnership to keep their side within reach of the required run rate.
When Punt lost his wicket Rademan and George Hlazo notched up a 47-run partnership, before it was also ended and the game’s momentum started to shift almost every over. SWCC regularly lost wickets, but managed to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Going into the last over, they needed 11 runs from six deliveries and Meyer put the hosts within reach, before a few dot balls followed and the home team needed three runs from the last ball.
Nigel Dirks kept his cool to guide the ball to third man and took the risk of running three runs to give SWCC victory by four wickets. Rademan (92) top-scored along with Hlazo (41) and Meyer (29*).
Meanwhile, the SWCC women’s Premier League team hosted UWC Premier at the Alan Olsen Oval on Sunday (12 February).
Faye Tunnicliffe and Imaan van Schalkwyk opened the batting for the hosts, but the latter lost her wicket when she was bowled by the South African under-19 player, Jemma Botha.
Mandy McIlroy was next up and she enjoyed a boundary-hitting fest until she fell to a slow spin ball.
The SWCC women ended their innings on 328/8 after 50 overs, with Tunnicliffe (192*) completely controlling the innings.
The SWCC bowlers played their part in restricting the visitors as Kayla Stirk and Estelle Russouw each bagged two wickets. Tunnicliffe shined again as she cleaned up the tail, taking the last three wickets in one over and leading her team to a memorable win.
Meanwhile the top-ranked first team of Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) hosted third-placed Edgemead CC at the Navy Sports Ground in Gordon’s Bay in a Division 1B clash on Saturday.
The visitors won the toss and elected to field, which proved to be a good decision as the HHCC batsmen struggled to get going on a difficult pitch. Edgemead CC bowled with good discipline, eventually bowling out the hosts for 158. Only Rewayne Viljoen (27*) and Abdul Aziz Temoor (23) provided some resistance.
With the pitch getting more difficult for batting, HHCC opening bowler Guillaume Jansen claimed two wickets early to have the visitors on 0/2.
The hosts then turned to the trusted spin duo of Mieftaah Oliver and Shameel Abels, who didn’t disappoint as they bagged seven scalps between them. Oliver (4/35) and Abels (3/15) ripped through the Edgemead CC line-up, bowling them out for 87 to claim a bonus-point win.
The HHCC second team were in action against Macassar CC in a derby at Riverside Oval. The hosts batted first and scored 127. HHCC made light work of the chase, winning with nine wickets. Irshaad Salie (68*) and Wahid Martin (50) were the top scorers.
The HHCC third team hosted Cape Town CC, setting a target of 216, which proved too much for the visitors, who only managed (143 all out).
