The past weekend of fixtures was a mixed one for two teams of Helderberg Cricket Club, as they recorded a loss and a victory in their league outings.
The club’s first team travelled to the Robinvale Sports Ground in Atlantis as they looked to replicate their dominant performance of the prior week and carry on their winning form against Atlantis CC last Saturday (26 February). However, the HCC charges struggled to find that same groove as they displayed in their win over Blues Downs CC on Saturday 19 February.
The visitors batted first in the First Division C outing and found the going tough in the middle due to the Atlantis bowlers’ disciplined and strategic bowling. HCC only managed to put on 115 (all-out) in 36 overs, with only stalwart wicketkeeper/batsman Gary-Jon Sylvester (27) and Garth Hurling (22) making it over the 20-run mark.
But the bowlers presented some hope for Helderberg, although the total proved to be just too low in the end. A fine display of economical bowling and sharp fielding kept the HCC troops in the hunt for victory, but the home side eventually managed to cross the line to win by one wicket, with their final score on 120/9 after 38 overs.
For Helderberg, Gasant Moller (3/19 in 10 overs) and Dexter Hindley (3/27 in 10 overs) were the stand-out performers with the leather in-hand.
Meanwhile, the HCC second team had a completely different fate at they recorded a four-wicket victory over their Ottomans CC counterparts at Helderzicht Sports Ground on the same day. The visitors batted first and were put under plenty of pressure by the home side’s bowlers from the start of their innings.
Ottomans were eventually all bowled out for 134 after 40 overs, with Declan Fredericks (5/32 in 10 overs) leading the charge. He was well supported by Jerome van Niekerk (3/26 in nine overs) and Aiden Salie (2/4 in five overs).
The HCC batsmen got off to shaky start as they lost three quick wickets, but the contributions by the reliable Enver van Boom (43) and Salie (21*) managed to push their team over the line in the end.
This coming weekend (Saturday 5 March), both Helderberg CC sides will be in action at Helderzicht in Somerset West, with the first team hosting Cravenby CC and the second taking on Bellville CC in their respective league encounters.
