The first team of Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) notched up a bonus-point victory when they hosted Kensington CC at the Naval Sports Ground in Gordon’s Bay on Saturday 26 February.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first. After losing an early wicket, Fuad Behardien and Usaamah Salie put on a decent partnership to give HHCC a strong start.
But after both batters lost both their wickets, the Strand side battled to string together any decent partnerships as they slumped to 157 (all-out) in 42 overs. Abdul Aziz Temoor (32), Behardien (22) and Salie (19) were the top scorers.
In the bowling department Yusri Jabodien struck early in the Kensington innings to give his side a great start. The visitors never really got going thanks to the determined efforts of the HHCC spinners, who wreaked havoc as they grabbed seven wickets between them.
Temoor (3/22), Shameel Abels (2/26) and Mieftaah Oliver (2/23) were in fine form as they dismissed Kensington for 99 and securing a bonus-point victory for HHCC.
The HHCC third team was also in action, as they hosted Mitchells Plain CC at Abattoir Sports Ground in Strand. The hosts first and posted a mammoth 220 in their allotted 35 overs, with youngster Yaaseen Smith (73) and veteran stalwart Riyaad Oliver (70) contributing handsomely.
In their innings, Mitchells Plain came out all-guns-blazing and were determined to chase down the target. True to the saying “catches win matches”, the poor fielding effort and six dropped catches cost the home side the match as Mitchell’s Plain steamed on to a victory with two balls to spare. Smith (3/33 in seven overs) was the pick of the HHCC bowlers.
The HHCC women’s team were also in action, taking on their Gugulethu CC counterparts on Sunday (27 February), and suffered a 20-run defeat.
Gugs batted first and scored 105 in their 20 overs, with Nuraan Fanie the top HHCC performer with three wickets. In reply, HHCC only managed score 85, largely due to excellent batting by Ayesha Crombie (42).
This coming weekend, the HHCC first team travels to central Cape Town to lock horns with Bonteheuwel CC, the second team hosts Northpine CC and the thirds will welcome Durbanville CC.
