The second team of Strand Cricket Club (SCC) returned to winning ways in the WP Reserve League G, when they hosted Somerset West CC (SWCC) at Gustrouw Sports Ground at the weekend.
The visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. After a lengthy absence, Zunaid Silijeur opened the bowling in his first match for SCC this season, drawing first blood with a wicket in the fifth over. Fellow bowler Adam Ramjee followed with another wicket in the seventh over.
Supporting bowlers Shelton Christiaan and Leathan Savoury each claimed a scalp before the drinks break, but not before the SWCC batsmen managed to steady the ship.
The visitors looked to be solid and in good nick until the 39th over, when SCC captain Aaqeel Fenton took two quick wickets and helped restrict the visitors to a respectable score of 255/8.
In their innings, SCC started shakily and lost opening batsman Tiaan Terblanche in the first over. Denzel Beckett and Vernon Swartland built a solid innings until Swartland was bowled for 25 runs in the 14th over and Beckett fell in the 18th over. Man-of-the-match Ebrahim Gafieldien led the target-setting charge with brilliant innings of 72 runs.
Ramjee (29), Logan Savoury (22*) and Junaid Daniels *29 all contributed as their side crossed the line for victory with the score on 259/5.
Meanwhile, the first team of SCC hosted South Peninsula CC at Gustrouw, playing to a draw in an intense match.
The home side scored 206/9 in their allotted 45 overs, thanks to contributions from captain Wayne Cloete (53), Logan Savoury (42) and Sharwaan Naidoo (39).
South Peninsula CC batted well, but their batting order collapsed towards the end of the encounter.
They lost their last wicket on the second last ball of the game, with their score on 206.
The top bowlers for SCC was Cloete (2/9), Morne Daars (3/30), and Johan Cysters (2/29).
