The past weekend’s matches are fixtures the players of Helderberg Cricket Club would quickly want to forget, after all three teams were on a losing streak on their league outings.
The club’s first team hosted league contenders Wynberg CC in a First Division C encounter at Helderzicht Sports Ground on Saturday (12 February).
The local lads were completely overwhelmed by the visitors, who claimed an convincing eight-wicket win.
HCC batted first and struggled to get going as the Wynberg bowlers piled on the pressure from the start. The hosts regularly lost wickets and were eventually all bowled out for 66 runs in just 30 overs.
Only Jerome van Niekerk (22) presented some form of resistance against the dominant Wynberg CC attack.
In their innings the visiting team made quick work of the chase, wrapping the match up in 11 overs to take the win. Shane Fredericks (2/2 in two overs) was the only HCC bowler to pick up wickets.
At the same time the Helderberg CC second team locked horns with the second team of Wynberg in a Reserve D League match on the B field of Helderzicht Sports Ground. In this match, though, the visitors batted first and managed to score 232/8 in their 50 overs.
Sharick Swarts (4/44 in 10 overs) and Hector Brighton (2/47 in nine overs) were the pick of the Helderberg bowlers.
HCC went into bat and put up a brave effort in trying to chase down the target. They eventually ended on 223/7 after 50 overs as they suffered a nine-run defeat.
Garth Hurling (72*) batted beautifully and kept his team in the running for victory. He was well-supported by Cullen Petterson (38) and Darren Cloete (26).
On Sunday (13 February), the HCC third team were in action aganst Nyanga CC in a 35-over Third Division C match. The latter batted first and put on a total of 155 (all out) in 33 overs.
For HCC, Gregan Mouers (3/13 in two overs), Shane Fredericks (2/30 in seven overs) and Gasant Moller (2/20 in seven overs) were in good form on the bowling front.
In their innings, Helderberg came agonisingly close to crossing the line, but they were all bowled out in the last over of the match with the score on 147 – eight runs short of the target.
Moller (49), Fredericks (25) and Juan van Boom (22) led from the front in the batting department, but their efforts were in vain in the end.
This weekend, the HCC first team will face Blue Downs CC (away), the second team are in action against neighbours Macassar CC (away) and the thirds will lock horns with Kleinvlei CC.
