WITH the exception of Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club’s flagship Challenge League team and the U13 team, all sides sustained notable losses of their scheduled league matches at the weekend.
Quins’ first team took on Dawn Heights from Stanger in a 50 over stream one Challenge League match at Harlequins on Sunday. Opener Andrea Dal Moro scored 34 runs, Faiyas Safri got 22 runs, and Mohammed Patel’s session at the crease earned him 30 runs which included two sixes and a four. Kevin Kettle played a mixture of strokes inclusive of sweeps, reverse sweeps, lofted drives over the clubhouse, being undefeated with 89 runs, to take Quins through to a good total of 235 runs for eight wickets in 50 overs.
Quins’ quartet of fast bowlers could not dislodge the sprightly openers until the onset of the 28th over when Dawn Heights were on 116 runs for one wicket. An opening batsman was trapped leg before wicket by Yusuf Abdulla, and thereafter Quins started effecting regular fall of wickets with a determined two spell effort by right arm off spinner Andrea Dal Moro who took out the remaining Dawn Heights top order.
Thereafter Kevin Kettle captured four middle order batsmen’s wickets for 43 runs in 10 overs to take Quins’ first team through to a victory by 20 runs in another scintillating match of cricket lasting almost the entire day.
Other team results: Quins’ 2nds lost to Hillary Malvern 2 by 18 runs; Quins’ 2nds lost to Silver Saints 2 by 13 runs; Quins’ 4ths lost to Merebank 2; Quins’ U13s beat Berea Rovers by eight wickets.
Juniors will have coaching sessions on Thursday, 15 March and seniors will practice on Friday at 4.30pm.
The club will host its annual awards event at the cricket fields on Saturday, 7 April, preceded by a skills extravaganza for all members and attendees, with prizes for respective category winners. Contact Ernest on 031 467 3270.
