The first team of Hottentots Holland Cricket Club (HHCC) is just one victory away from historic promotion to the First Division A League – the highest tier of club cricket of the Western Province Cricket Association.
This after the team recorded a thrilling nine-run victory over St Augustine’s CC in a First Division B match at the Navy Sports Ground in Gordon’s Bay on Saturday (18 February). The home side won the toss and elected to bat in windy conditions, but were on the back foot early in their innings, battling on 6/2.
Opener Shameel Abels (36) was joined at the crease by captain Waleed Smith (30) and the pair revived the innings with a solid 69-run stand. The visitors struck again, this time claiming three wickets in the middle overs, but Uthmaan Sha (34) stepped up to the crease and played some great scoring shots towards the end of the innings, leading his side to 151 (all out).
In the St Augustine’s innings, the ever reliable opening bowler Guillaume Jansen struck early, getting two scalps, while Rasool Thomas dominated the middle overs by grabbing three wickets.
Despite a good partnership towards the end of the Saints’ innings, HHCC never gave up and managed to complete the nine-run win.
Meanwhile, the HHCC second team were in action in Goodwood against Northerns-Goodwood CC. The local team batted first and posted 204/7, with Wahid Martin (111*) top-scoring. Unfortunately his heroics were not enough as HHCC lost by two wickets. Ebrahim Arnold (4/32) was the pick of the bowlers.
The HHCC thirds hosted Milnerton CC at Abbatoir Sports Ground, batting first and scoring 213/8 in 35 overs thanks to contributions by Rameez Appolis (62) and Dawood Josephs (45). The total was way too much for the visitors, who fell 46 runs short. Shakeel Railoun (4/26) was HHCC’s chief destroyer.
The HHCC women hosted Khayelitsha CC in Gordon’s Bay on Sunday (19 February). Batting first, the visitors scored 130/8 in 20 overs with Lesley le Fleur (4/17) and Fouzia Hercules (3/26) shining with the ball for the hosts.
With bat in-hand, HHCC made light work of the chase and claimed a seven-wicket victory. Ayesha Crombie (60*) and Nuraan Fanie (32) were the best batters.
- This weekend the HHCC first team hosts Blue Bells CC, the seconds take on Helderberg CC and the thirds lock horns with Tygerberg CC, while the women are away to Gugulethu CC.
