League club cricket action returned to the Helderberg over the weekend when Hottentots-Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) hosted top-of-the-table Brackenfell CC in a First Division A clash at the Naval Grounds in Gordon’s Bay on Saturday (6 January).
The hosts won the toss and elected to field first in perfect cricketing conditions.
Gasant Moller got HHCC off to a perfect start, claiming two wickets early in the innings. HHCC then turned to their spin trio of Abdul Aziz Temoor (2/32), Shameel Abels (2/18) and Mieftaah Oliver (2/25). Brackenfell were eventually dismissed for 184 in 48 overs.
In the batting department HHCC’s top three struggled to get going and the team slumped to 5/3.
A few partnerships followed, but the homes side never looked comfortable in their chase, and were eventually dismissed for 142. Temoor top scored with 61 runs.
The HHCC third team hosted Sir Lowry’s Pass CC in a Third Division derby. The hosts batted first and scored 190/8 in 35 overs. Mauricio Swartland (53), Rameez Appolis (37) and Dawood Josephs (27) were the top scorers.
In the bowling department, Ismodeen Brinkhuis and Waqaar Josephs were on fire as they grabbed three wickets each to guide HHCC to a 19-run victory.
This coming weekend will see the HHCC first team travel to Surrey Estate to face Ottoman CC.
. In the second division, Strand CC played two games over the weekend, looking horns with Wesbank CC in Khayelitsha in Saturday and Delft CC at Gustrouw Sports Grounds on Sunday.
In the first game, the local side lost the toss and was sent in to bat. Openers Yasin Januarie and Therlow Cloete struggled at the start, before Januarie lost his wicket (16/1). Lesley Taylor joined Cloete in the middle and they steadily built a partnership before Cloete (25) lost his wicket. Taylor (32) followed shortly thereafter.
Vernon Swartland and Winston Isaacs steered the team to 209 (all out).
In their innings, Wesbank never really posed a threat and were bowled out for 35 runs to hand Strand a 174-run victory.
On Sunday, Strand CC won the toss and elected to bat against Delft, which proved a good decision as they put on a total of 216/7. Noticeable contributions were from Januarie (43), Cloete (30), Adeeb Bailey (23) and Logan Savoury (59).
The hosts’ opening bowlers struggled in the wind, but eventually broke the deadlock, which resulted in a collapse of wickets.
Delft CC were bowled out for 146, handing Strand their second bonus-point win of the weekend. Morne Daars was the man of the match, claiming 5/27 in eight overs.
This weekend, Strand CC will face Second Division log leaders South Peninsula CC at Gustrouw.
In other fixtures, Somerset West CC will host Yorkshire CC at Radloff Park in the First Division B, while Helderberg CC will travel to lock horns with Varsity College in First Division D.
