Ottoman Cricket Club beat powerhouse Durbanville Club by two wickets in a Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) Premier League one-day encounter in Surrey Esate on Saturday.
It was a nightmare for the log leaders, Durbanville, as they suffered their fourth defeat of the season.
Led by Mujahid Isaacs, who stood in for Taariq Behardien, Ottoman won the toss and elected to bowl first, limiting Durbanville to 111 runs.
Ottoman’s fourth-change bowler, Isgak Martin tormented the visitors with his 3/17 with a rate of 1.7 runs in 10 overs.
Martin shared the ball with first change bowler, Anees Adams, as he received 3/14 runs after 6.5 overs, with a bowling rate of two runs an over.
Durbanville’s only promising batsman on the day was opener, Kudakwashe Donald Samunderu as he made 36 runs off 105 balls before Isaacs sent him packing to Hassan Howa Pavilion through an LBW.
But the pitch favoured the bowling attack from both ends.
Allrounder Samunderu caused a stir with both bat and ball. He picked up five wickets off 23 runs in 10 overs to trouble the home side. Samunderu’s bowling economy was at an inspiring 2.3 runs an over.
Ottoman’s coach Hassan Pangarker says the win was a massive morale booster for his young team.
“I am feeling good and sad about the results. About 80% of the games we have played so far we have easily given them away to the opponents.
“On Saturday, we almost let it slip,” he says.
Pangarker says their bowling attack has been instrumental throughout the season as they have limited big scoring teams to small scores.
He complimented the youngsters in the team for coming to the table as Durbanville looked to squeeze out Ottoman’s tailenders. Anees Adams impressed with both ball and bat. He scored an undefeated 21 runs off 42 balls to give Ottoman their third win of the season. They scored 114/8.
“We are starting to give the youngsters a go and they are representing us very well because at the age of 19 they are able to play in the first or second team.
“This season has been up and down but nothing is lost. Hopefully we win the next three games and boost the team morale for the end of the season,” says Pangarker.
Ottoman occupy 12th spot on the log with 13 points. On Saturday, they will travel to Claremont, then next weekend they will host Bellville, followed by a trip to Langa Cricket Club at the end of the month.
In First Division A one-day action, Avendale shocked United, at home, beating them by 82 runs to move up to ninth spot. United won the toss and elected to bowl first, enabling the hosts, Avendale, to score 187/8 in 50 overs.
Taariq Gabriels had a stellar performance on the day following his 64 runs of 87 balls. Gabriels was assisted by Mo-shaf Manual in eighth-spot after he posted 38 runs before both of them fell short to United’s Shaheen Khan.
The opening bowler for United, Khan, had other plans for Avendale. He took 4/25 runs in eight overs.
However, Avendale’s Chester Alexander had the last laugh for his outing, following his 4/23 runs, limiting the visitors to 105 all out.
Avendale will host big-hitting Strandfontein this weekend in their third last one-day fixture of the season.
