Quins rusty in league matches

UMBILO Harlequins Cricket season started at the weekend with the first team playing two 20-over challenge matches on Sunday, 27 September.

In the morning, Quins took on a formidable Clares outfit at Harlequins main oval. Clares paced their innings well to achieve 126 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.

Right arm wrist spinner, Dieter Liebenberg, claimed four wickets for 15 runs in four overs, and fast bowler, Kevin Kettle, took three wickets for 15 runs in four overs.

Quins' attempt at acquiring their victory target was abysmal despite two unfortunate run-outs, and what was perceived by the Quins spectators as an erroneous officiating decision in losing Tyrelle Smith to a bat pad/LBW decision. To add some misfortune to Quins' effort was that one of the run-outs involved a Clares fielder stepping over the boundary before claiming the run-out.

Quins were skittled for 38 runs in 17 overs. Clares won by 88 runs.

In the afternoon, Quins took on Phoenix. Quins seemed to bat well, with Devan Dippenaar and Huey Naicker scoring a multitude of boundaries, both being undefeated, taking Quins to a defensible tally of 131 runs in 20 overs, having lost just two wickets. Some substandard bowing by the Quins attack in general allowed Phoenix to surpass their total with 135 runs for the loss of five wickets in 18.5 overs. Only a spell of four overs by wrist spinner, Dieter Liebenberg (during which he conceded only a dozen runs) was worth a mention. Phoenix won by five wickets.

The coming weekend sees most Quins cricket teams in league match action with the firsts at Harlequins against ILembe on Sunday morning. The second team takes on DHS/Rhythm 2 at Danville Park. The third team will play against ACC 3 at Harlequins 1. The Saturday side plays ACC 5 at Harlequins 2; the U13s play Chesterville at Harlequins 2 on Sunday morning; and the U11s challenge Hillary Malvern at Tills Crescent.

The club has entered an U15 team and requires cricketers to play out all its allocated league fixtures. Anyone interested in league cricket can contact Ernest on 031 467 3270.

U13s train on Fridays, U11s are coached on Thursdays and seniors' practice is at Quins' nets on Fridays from 4.30pm.