The three-week-away winning streak of Hottentots Holland Cricket Club’s (HHCC) first team was brought to a halt by Montrose CC at the weekend.
The Strand team travelled to Observatory to face Montrose CC on Saturday 5 February, but fell far short of the 205-run target.
HHCC won the toss and elected to field on what seemed to be a good wicket. But the visitors struggled to get early wickets, as the Montrose batsmen adapted to and played the conditions very well.
The hosts ended their innings on 204/5 after 50 overs, with only Mieftaah Oliver (two wickets) managing to rattle the solid batting line-up somewhat.
In the batting department HHCC lost wickets at regular intervals and never really got going as they were dismissed for 139, falling 65 runs short of the tally. Waleed Smith (60) was the only batsman to put up some resistance and fight, but his efforts were in vain in the disappointing encounter.
On the same day the HHCC second team was in action in a league match against hosts Kensington CC. The visitors won the toss and decided to field – a decision which paid off from the start of the outing.
Ebrahim Arnold and Riyaad Oliver ripped through the Kensington batting line-up, bagging seven wickets between them and restricting the home team to a lowly 84 (all out). Arnold (4/11) and Oliver (3/19) were the pick of the HHCC bowlers.
In their innings the HHCC charges made very light work of the target, losing just one wicket on their road to a nine-wicket victory. Captain Fuad Behardien (55*) led from the front and top-scored for his side; he was well supported by Aaqib Achmat (25).
Meanwhile, the Hottentots Holland CC third team hosted their Cravenby CC counterparts at the Naval Sports Ground in Gordon’s Bay on Saturday. The hosts batted first and scored a competitive 181/6 in their allotted 35 overs, thanks to valuable contributions by Naeem Rhoda (64) and Yaseen Smith (39).
In the bowling department, Shuaib Salie (4/14 in seven over) produced an amazing spell as HHCC bowled out their opponents for 94 runs to bag a memorable 87-run win.
The women’s team of HHCC were also in action at the weekend, hosting neighbours Strand CC, who batted first and were bowled out for 68. Nuraan Fanie (4/13) was the chief destroyer for HHCC.
In their innings, the HHCC batters showed their intentions early and managed to chase down the target with relative ease. Reliable Fanie (13*) top scored in her team’s seven-wicket triumph.
This coming weekend, the women’s team will enjoy a bye while all three men’s teams will be in action at home. The first team locks horns with Kuils River CC, the second takes on Yorkshire CC and the third team hosts Ottomans CC.
