THE penultimate round of summer league cricket was played on Sunday, 18 March.
Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club’s first team, being undefeated since 14 January, took on Umzinto in a 50 over stream one Challenge League match at Umzinto.
Quins, not having learnt from their mistakes in batting first during their six consecutive losses at the onset of the 50 over competition, chose to bat first. This decision handed the initiative to Umzinto on a silver platter before the match even started.
Quins lost an opening batsman in the very first over, and batting was profoundly difficult with the ball regularly ‘exploding’ off the damp and sticky wicket surface. Momadthala Motala was the only top order batsman who added any real value to the team’s cause in scoring 19 runs. Faiyas Safri made 13 runs in the middle order, Yusuf Abdulla played exceptional well to acquire 29 runs and Mohommed Patel’s power hitting of three sixes into the road helped him score 29 runs getting Quins through to well below par total of 121 runs in 38 overs, 10 overs short of their full allocation.
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Fast bowler Kevin Kettle removed two top order batsmen in his second spell, the first one through a spectacular diving catch to the left by wicket keeper Ryan Baronet and the second one a fast yorker bowling out Umzinto’s number three batsman. Mohommed Patel also removed two top order batsmen with his superlative right arm off cutters. Umzinto were four wickets down when the team surpassed Quins’ total in the 36th over.
Other team results: Quins’ U11s versed Delta. Delta made 99 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Quins responded with 72 runs for the loss of two wickets, losing by 17 runs.
Final junior and senior training sessions for the current season will be held on Thursday and Friday respectively.
The club will hold its annual awards event on Saturday 7 April at Harlequins, preceded by some skills events for all attendees. Contact Ernest on 031 467 3270.
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