Quins cricket end league season on high note

HARLEQUINS Cricket Club had a successful round of league matches at the weekend of Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 December.

On Sunday, the first team played a 50 over promotion league match at Danville Park, Virginia.

Quins again had a compromised strike attack with a solitary fast bowler, two medium paced seamers and three spinners. Conditions were ideal for the quicker bowlers while the ball was dry.

Fast bowler, Kevin Kettle, was immaculate in his three spells comprising an eventual hoard of 10 overs conceding 34 runs capturing three important wickets. Medium pacer, Daniel Smuts, sustained an unfortunate knee injury in the field after bowling 3 overs taking one wicket for 16 runs.

Right arm orthodox slow bowler, Andrea Dal Moro, was superb in his spell of 10 overs capturing 3 wickets for 46 runs. Faiyas Safri, Rahul Bahoti and Mohamed Patel were moderately effective in the bowling friendly conditions which DHS Rhythm posted a fair total of 187 runs.

Mohamed Patel and Kevin Kettle took a catch Stuart Watt held two catches and mention must be made of the powerful throw in from the deep fine leg position by Momedtalha Motalha which was taken by Juran Pillay at the stumps to run out the Rhythm opening batsman The target of 188 runs was perceived to be a bit more than what Quins would have liked considering the prevailing conditions.

Quins lost both their opening batsmen in succession. Stuart Watt was unfortunaltey trapped leg before wicket for 18 runs. Faiyas Safri got 13 runs with Quins in dire straits with the score on 66 for 6 wickets. Middle order batsman Momedthala Motala executed his preferred signature stroke, the cut shot with precision on multiple occasions, then displayed his ability to play out perfect cover drives, some powerful pull shots, amid solid fending off of some accurate deliveries.

He was joined by Kevin Kettle who was likewise circumspect when necessary, but explosively effective with loose deliveries, reaching and superseding the boundary on multiple occasions. The pair played out a partnership in excess of a century taking Quins through to within 14 runs when Motalha was dismissed with his score on 68 runs. Quins were 7 wickets down when Mohamed Patel came to the crease, however the winning runs were acquired with relative ease with Quins winning by three wickets.

Kevin Kettle was undefeated with 56 runs. This was an unexpected victory for Quins who have found this opposition to be resolute in the past. The second team’s opposition scratched conceding 4 log points to Quins 2.

The third side took on Phoenix 3 in a 30 over division 3 encounter at Harlequins from 1.30pm Phoenix 3 were restricted to 124 runs in 30 overs for the loss of 7 wickets.

Deen Fredericks was the home team’s most successful bowler in capturing 2 wickets for 18 runs in 3 overs. Pierre Horn and Shaun Nicholl were ultra-economical in their respective spells of bowling.

Warren Torguis took two catches. Cole Brady held one catch and Theuns Jacobs effected a run out. In response J Fredericks scored 14 runs Justin Coskey got 23 runs, Warren Torguis managed 29 runs and Theuns Jacobs top scored and was undefeated with 30 runs all to take Quins 3 through to an easy victory by 5 wickets.

Quins’ fourth team also played a division three league match. The venue was Harlequins 2, which has been sorely neglected by the municipal parks maintenance team lately. In diabolical conditions with haystacks all over the long lawn Quins 4 restricted DHS Rhythm 3 to 83 runs in 30 overs capturing 9 wickets.

Quinton Botha captured 4 wickets for just 7 runs in 5 overs in an amazing spell of bowling. In response Sylvester Sauli was undefeated on 40 runs and Clint Abrahams was not out on 14 runs when Quins 4 won this match by nine wickets.

Harlequins 6 won the toss and sent DHS Rhythm 8 in to bat on an even paced wicket with occasional variable bounce. Most of the bowlers used were effective in both restricting the run rate and taking regular wickets.

The best figures went to Ian Karg with 2/11 off 4 overs of vicious off breaks. Veteran seamer Russell Mackenzie took 2/20 off 4 overs and Don Steele 2/23 off 4 overs. The bowling was backed up by some excellent fielding with Clinton Jenkins taking a stunning one handed catch running back on the long off boundary. Long time supporter Cecil Gaze calling it the best catch he had ever seen at Fynnland. DHS Rhythm 8 ended on 130 all out in 27 overs.

Despite losing an early wicket, in-form opener Zane Gaze and schoolboy Troy (16) combined to add 74 for the second wicket. Zane was eventually out for a well played 62 with Ian Karg (25 not out) adding the finishing touches to take Quins to 134/3 off 20.5 overs.

This 7 wicket win keeps Quins near the top of their league. Catches were successfully taken by Dean Jordan who took three while Donavan Steele, Clinton Jenkins and Lionel Gaze held a catch each.

This brings to conclusion the first half of the current league match season. Harlequins will be hosting a sixes extravaganza at Harlequins commencing at 7.30am on Sunday, 15 December. Both fields will be utilised. The competition will comprise eight participating teams playing in two sections.

There will be semi-finals and a final match with prizes including a lucky draw competition, with a junior match during the luncheon interval. Contact 073-795-0363 for further club information.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 876 3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

To receive our free newsletter click here

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)