The start of the club-cricket season this week saw several teams in the Basin kick-start their campaign with Ama 20 fixtures, some even playing league matches.
In first division A, Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) was in action in a league match against Pinelands CC on Saturday 12 October in an away fixture.
HHCC won the toss and batted first, but it was Pinelands that took early breakthroughs by taking advantage of the favourable bowling conditions and ran through the top order. Marwaan Wanza and Fuad Behardien showed some resilience in the lower order, but HHCC were all bowled out for a meagre 82 in the 35th over.
Pinelands went in to bat and wasted no time by reaching the target in the 15th over to inflict a stinging defeat over HHCC.
On Sunday HHCC played two games in the Ama 20 competition in Avendale, the first was against Tygerberg CC where HHCC batted first and once again lost early wickets in the top order.
Captain Waleed Smith joined opener Hishaam Slamdien and the pair put on a quick-fire 73-run partnership, and after the fall of Smith (40) Yaasien Jakoet joined the crease and continued the momentum with a 43-run partnership. The fall of Slamdien (37) halted the progress somewhat and HHCC managed to set a target of 155/9.
Tygerberg went in to bat and showed intent from the first ball. The game set well in Tygerberg’s favour, but two “world-class” run-outs by Smith, followed by two wickets in one over by Waqaar Josephs swung all the momentum in HHCC’s favour. With 12 runs needed in the last over, Tygerberg managed to win the game off the last ball.
In the second Ama20 game, HHCC faced Rylands CC, but started poorly and were two wickets down in the second over. Once again Smith (17) and Slamdien (27) pulled HHCC back into the game. But after they fell HHCC could muster only 77 all out.
Rylands CC did not waste time and reached the target in the 9th over, as the first team of HHCC ended the week with three losses in three games. This weekend they are poised to host Gugulethu CC at the Gordon’s Bay Naval grounds.
In First Division B, Somerset West Cricket Club (SWCC) played two games in the Ama 20 competition, where they won one and lost one.
In the first match, they celebrated a win against Bonteheuwel CC. SWCC were asked to bowl first, which proved a blessing as Hein Claassen led the bowling attack with figures of 2-4 and helped restrict Bonteheuwel to 69 all out.
In response, SWCC opening batsman and captain Larry Morkel led the charge, top scoring with 30, as SWCC reached the target with 5,8 overs to spare.
In the second match SWCC faced Cravenby CC where they won the toss and elected to bat first.
It was Jan Rademan who top-scored this time around for SWCC, but they struggled to keep runs flowing and ended with 96-8.
The Cravenby CC chase was too good to stop as SWCC were outplayed, losing by six wickets in the 16th over.
This weekend SWCC face Belhar CC in an away league match, and on Sunday face UCT at Radloff Park in a Ama 20 clash.
In First Division D, Strand Cricket Club (SCC) faced an Ama 20 clash against Belville South CC and elected to bowl first on what looked like good bowling conditions.
This decision paid off as the opening bowling pair of Zuniad Siljeur and Winston Isaacs slowed the flow of runs for Belville South, and were ably supported by the rest of the bowlers. Bellville South were eventually restricted to 103-7 after 20 overs.
At the change of innings, Strand CC started off with an explosive opening partnership of 86 by Yasin Januarie (50) and Lesley Tailer (32), which Strand a solid foundation. Sharwaan Naidoo and Logan Savory wrapped up the game to get Strand CC over the line with a bonus point win in the 12th over – 106-3. Januarie was awarded man of the match. SCC will face Mitchell’s Plein on Saturday in Gustrouw in a league match, and on Sunday will be Ama 20 games away to Seacrest CC and Nyanga CC.
Also in First Division D, Helderberg Cricket Club (HCC) won one of its two Ama 20 encounters.
The team lost to Bellville South by four wickets after posting a total of 77 all out in 19 overs. Bellville South cruised to the target despite valiant efforts by HCC bowlers Gary Jon Sylvester (4-3) and Dexter Hindley (4-2).
HCC had a better match against Nyanga CC who they defeated by 71 runs.
Jody Sylvester (64*) and Chalynn Hess (48*) starred with the bat as HCC set a total of 160/3 in the allotted 20 overs.
In the bowling department HCC came out guns blazing as they bowled out Nyanga for 89.
Sharick Swarts (4-4), Gary-Jon Sylvester (4-2) and Aiden Salie (4-2) were the pick of the bowlers.
HCC travel this weekend in a league fixture against Bellville South.
