WHILE Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club’s junior teams had a break from youth league activity on 4 February, Quins’ senior teams were engaged in official matches at the weekend.
Quin’s flagship Challenge League team took on Railways from Maidstone in a stream one encounter. Having lost six successive league matches and having drawn the last, Quins was firmly entrenched at the bottom of the log, desperately seeking a victory to provide a shard of relief from possible relegation prospects.
Play commenced at 1pm in an abbreviated format of 25 overs a side, which is the Quins team’s forte. Quins skipper Yusuf Abdulla won the coin toss and requested Railways to bat first. Yusuf captured one top end wicket with his fiery left arm seamers in his maximum allocation of five overs for just 15 runs, through the efforts of Sayed Cassim’s spectacular low down diving catch at cover.
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Other opening bowler Kevin Kettle applied variation tactics, dismissing four batsmen for 14 runs in five overs. Mohammed Patel captured three Railways wickets for 10 runs in five overs. Railways accumulated 75 runs in 20 overs losing nine wickets during their endeavour.
Quins’ opening batsmen Andrea Del Moro and Aziz Khan both added real value to Quins’ cause in a commendable partnership of 24 runs. An intervention by batsman Momedthala Motala surpassed the required score, and saw him top scoring for Quins with a contribution of 27 undefeated runs in the 16th over. His effort combined with the contributions by the openers and Quins’ bowling attack helped the team to a desperately needed victory with a bonus point.
Other team results: Quins 2nds lost to Newlands East Kensea; Quins 4ths lost to INK Ntuzuma by 25 runs; Quins 3rds lost to ACC 3.
Juniors will be coached on Thursday at 4.30 pm and seniors will practice from 4.30pm on Friday. Contact Ernest on 031 467 3270.
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