Batsman Waleed Smith led the charge for the first team of Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) in their First Division B match against Bonteheuwel CC at the Metropolitan Sports Ground in Bonteheuwel on Saturday 5 March.
The stalwart batter handsomely added 108 runs to his team’s total, playing a pivotal role in the eventual bonus-point victory for the Helderbergers.
HHCC won the toss and elected to bat first, but the innings got off to a shaky start as they lost a couple of early wickets. However, once Smith and Fuad Behardien joined forces in the middle, they managed to steady the ship and put the team in a commanding position.
Behardien (34) lost his wicket and this left the responsibility with Smith, who played a memorable knock on his way to a century. HHCC eventually ended their innings on 266/9, with Smith (108) and Abdul Aziz Temoor (38) rounding off the innings.
In the bowling department, a sensational opening spell by Imtiyaaz Oslodien (3/31 in 10 overs) ripped the Bonteheuwel CC top-order apart, putting the HHCC on the front foot. The hosts fought valiantly and managed to score some runs, but the total proved too much as they fell 60 runs short in the end and HHCC claimed a bonus-point win. Behardien and Yusri Jabodien picked up two wickets apiece.
The HHCC second team were also on the winning side as they recorded a 37-run victory over Northpine CC at the Naval Sports Ground in Gordon’s Bay on the same day.
The home side batted first and scored 186/9 in their 50 overs, with contributions by Waqaar Josephs (37*) and Ricardo Naidoo (26). With ball-in-hand, HHCC were in devastating form, restricting the visitors to 149 (all out) to take the spoils. Naidoo (3/26) and Shuaib Salie (3/24) were the pick of the bowlers.
Meanwhile, the HHCC third team hosted the Division 3A log leaders Durbanville CC at Abattoir Sports Ground in Strand on Saturday. The visitors batted first and put on a commanding 211/8 in their 35 overs. Yaasien Railoun was the top bowler for HHCC, claiming three wickets.
Coming out to bat, the home team lost their opener early, but Railoun (76) and Ebrahim Pedro (33) took command of proceedings with a massive partnership. Pedro lost his wicket, but this didn’t phase Railoun, who pushed through to take his team within reach of victory.
The match went down to the wire, with HHCC needing two runs from the last ball of the match, which they achieved to record a memorable one-wicket win.
The HHCC women’s team’s match against Rylands CC was cancelled.
This coming weekend, the HHCC first team takes on Edgemead CC (away), the third team hosts WPCC and women are in action against Uni-Mil CC (away). The second team will enjoy a bye.
