The first teams of Somerset West Cricket Club (SWCC) and Helderberg Cricket Club (HCC) will have to go back to the drawing board, after they suffered defeats in the league encounters on Saturday (13 January).
Hosts SWCC narrowly lost by a wicket to Yorkshire CC at Radloff Park in First Division B, while visitors HCC suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Varsity College CC in a First Division D outing in Rondebosch.
In their match, SWCC captain Larry Morkel won the toss and opted to bat, setting the stage for a challenging encounter. Morkel (38) led from the front and was well supported by Matthew Dickson (79) en route to the home side posting a competitive 225 (all out) in 48.4 overs.
In response, Yorkshire showcased their batting prowess and managed to cross the line with the score on 226/9 in 44.5 overs. Ghaulied van Schalkwyk and Jason-Lee Josephs were the home side’s best bowlers.
In the First Division D match between Varsity College and HCC, the visitors batted first, scoring 133 runs before they were all back in the cloakrooms. Challyn Hess (70) and Declan Fredericks (25) wielded the willow and played great shots to give their bowlers something to defend.
But the total was far too low as the home side’s batters delivered a clinical chase to take their side over the line for a five-wicket victory, scoring 134/5. For HCC, Damian Jooste (2/25), Gary-Jon Sylvester (1/20) and Dexter Hindley (1/19) tried to salvage matters, but their efforts were in vein.
The first teams of HCC and SWCC will look to reversing their fortunes into victories when they take to the field in league encounters in Somerset West this coming Saturday (20 January). The Helderberg lads will lock horns with Seacrest CC at Helderzicht Sports Ground, while SWCC will be in action against Blue Bells CC at Radloff Park.
