Quins 1sts suffer under Ilembe’s seam attack bowlers

UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club first team took on a composite team from Stanger incorporating the surrounding districts in a 20 over group match on Sunday morning.

Ilembe batted first on a lively wicket in what was initially overcast conditions with a slow outfield and a moderate south to south-easterly breeze off the sea, providing Quins’ pace attack with some lateral deviation through the air.

Quins’ bowlers bowled tidily, however without sufficient penetration into the opposition’s batting line up. The slow bowlers were equally ineffectual although by no means substandard in their quality of delivery. Ilembe lost six wickets while accumulating their 110 runs in 20 overs, which is considered to be a good total on a slow outfield.

Ilembe’s seam attack was quite dynamic with sufficient zest, enthusiasm and brisk pace to take out the entire top and middle order of the Quins batting line up in a short space of time. The bulk of their lower order showed some determination and heart, with minor contributions to the team’s cause, with only Ernest Kettle achieving double figures with a dozen runs. Quins succumbed on 35 runs, losing the match by 81 runs.

The second team took on DHS / Rhythm 2 in a 40 over Challenge reserve league match at Danville Park 1. Quins amassed 232 runs in 40 overs, losing seven wickets. A superb opening innings by Sheldon Spindler and a half century innings by T Jacobs were the primary contributors towards the total.

A fine spell of 43 deliveries by W Van der Sloot, in which he claimed four wickets for 35 runs, was fundamental in the demise of DHS/Rhythm at 151 after 24 and a half overs. Quins 2 won by 81 runs.

The third team challenged ACC 3 in a 30-over-a-side duel at Harlequins 1 on Sunday afternoon. The early morning clouds had long since dissipated, giving way to bright and sunny conditions and the south to south-easterly breeze had become a moderately tolerable north easterly, all conducive to more comfortable batting than it was in the morning match. ACC elected to bat first, a popular choice of decision in afternoon matches. Big Pierre Horn bowled with great rhythm, sending down his seamers to capture two wickets for 22 runs in six overs. John Meintjies claimed two wickets for 16 runs in six overs of medium-paced left arm seamers and captain Shane Manicom prised out two Toti batsmen for 16 runs in five overs of right arm, orthodox slow bowling, all contributing effectively to restrict ACC to 117 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. Quins’ response was purposeful, clinical and dynamic as their openers scored 48 in the first seven overs. Brett Williams made 23 runs. Darryn Moffitt compiled 20 runs and with just two runs required for victory, opener Warren Torguis being on strike required just two runs to achieve a superlative 50. He skied a delivery to be held out by ACC’s wicket keeper for 48 runs. Quins 3 won by six wickets in a match which was played in good spirit. Both teams’ members fraternised informally at a post-match function.

The fifth team challenged ACC 5 in a 30 over division five match on a slow Harlequins 2 wicket and slow outfield on the sunny Saturday afternoon. Warren Jordan top-scored with 32 aggressively struck runs, Craig Laing scored 17 runs and Darryl Lavender was undefeated with 10 runs, assisting Quins 5 to 95 runs in 26,1 overs. Below par execution by all the fifth team bowlers enabled a competent ACC line-up to surpass the victory target with relative ease, losing just three wickets in 15,3 overs. ACC 5 won by seven wickets.

The U13 team which is affiliated to the Durban and District Cricket Union U13 south league, is a side which Quins has realistic aspirations of topping the log by the end of the season. They took on Chesterville U13s in a 30 over league at Harlequins 2 on Sunday morning. An undefeated innings of 50 runs which terminated as a result of the mandatory retirement within the context of the league’s playing conditions, by Heath Manicom and 43 runs by Tyler Jordan, took Quins through to a formidable total of 152 runs for seven wickets in 30 overs. Chesterville’s gallant yet abysmal endeavour at victory terminated not by the demise of wickets, but rather by virtue of exhaustion of allocated overs. Best bowler for the U13s was young Brody Jordan who took two wickets for four runs in three overs, inclusive of a wicket maiden (meaning not conceding a run but taking a wicket in one of his three overs). Quins U13s won by 86 runs.

The Saturday team takes on DHS/ Rhythm seven at Danville Park one on 10 October, while the first team will be at Penguin Street in a final group 20 over match for the season. The second team play Newlands East Kensea 2 at Harlequins. The third side tackle DHS/Rhythm 3 at Danville Park one on Sunday afternoon. The fourth team square up against DHS Rhythm 5 at Harlequins 2 on Sunday afternoon. U11s and U13’s both have home matches in the youth leagues at Harlequins on Sunday morning, commencing at 8.30am.

U11s are coached on Thursday at 5pm, U13s train on Fridays at 4.30pm and seniors on Friday at 4.30pm at the Quins cricket nets.

The club invites anyone who aspires to participate in any of the disciplines of league cricket – including players, coaches, scorers, umpires, administrators and team managers – to join in.

Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for more information.