Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) took a crucial step towards retaining their status as a First Division A team when they triumphed in a must-win match over Avendale CC at the weekend.
The game was played in Athlone where Avendale won the toss and elected to bat first.
HHCC opening bowlers Yaaseen Smith and Guillaume Jansen were on fire as they grabbed three wickets in the power play. HHCC then brought on their spinners Shameel Abels and the recently crowned over-40 Veterans World champion Abdul Aziz Temoor and the pair dried up the runs for Avendale and grabbed two wickets each. However, crucial dropped catches towards the end of the innings allowed Avendale to score a competitive 203/9 in their 50 overs.
In reply, HHCC started well and reached 63/1 after 14 overs with Naeem Rhoda being the aggressor scoring 34. A cluster of wickets then fell and HHCC were left reeling on 77/5. Temoor then joined captain Yaasien Railoun at the crease and the pair were outstanding in getting to the target. Railoun played an outstanding captains knock as he scored 94 while being supported by Temoor who managed 37 as HHCC claimed a vital three-wicket victory.
This coming weekend sees HHCC on the road as they face Pinelands CC in their final league fixture. A win in this fixture will retain their place in the First Division A for next season.
In First Division B, Somerset West Cricket Club (SWCC) thrashed Bishop Lavis CC in a six-wicket victory over the weekend.
Playing at Bishop Lavis, SWCC won the toss and opted to bowl first and from the start dominated proceedings.
Robbie Uys (4/21), Ghawied van Schalkwyk (3/10) and Varun Kalindi (2/32) ripped through the Bishop Lavis batting order and bowled them all out for 78 runs in 31 overs.
At the change of innings SWCC continued to dominate as they reached the target in just 17 overs. Top scorers for SWCC were Larry Morkel (33) and Tim Boyd (27). SWCC sits sixth on the log standings where they will most likely finish the season, as they play their final fixture this weekend when they travel to face Victoria CC.
In First Division D, Helderberg Cricket Club (HCC) travelled to Khayelitsha where they lost the match after a dismal performance.
Helderberg won the toss and elected to bat first but they struggled to get going and were eventually all bowled out for only 95. Top scorers were Damian Jooste (18) and Chalynn Hess (16). Khayelitsha made light work of the chase and won by six wickets. Dexter Hindley (2/34) and Damian Jooste (1/2) were the pick of the bowlers. HCC remain in fourth position on the log standings and will play their final game of the season this weekend in an away fixture against Nyanga.
In the Second Division, Strand Cricket Club (SCC) walked away with all the points after their opponents, Philippi CC, failed to pitch for the game. SCC has two games remaining, against CPUT this weekend and the following weekend against Delft CC. They are third on the log standings.
