Win sees Quins 1sts inch closer to relegation safety

ALL the Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club matches were cancelled on Sunday, 25 February, primarily due to water-logged wicket surfaces resultant from preceding rain early on Sunday morning and secondarily due to odds bouts of light rain during the course of Sunday, which exacerbated the already compromised situation.

However, the Challenge league team went to Comtech with expectations of a non-result from expected rain. The outfield and parts of the wicket surface required some attention due to dampness, which caused a two and a half hour delay in the commencement of play.

The wicket was generally good, although seemingly not compacted prior to the match. The field was rather diminutive with a fast ball velocity across the outfield surface.

A relatively good covering of live, fine green grass on the pitch provided Quins with an opportunity to use its predominantly seam attack first up. Aside from Yusuf Abdulla, Quins generally had a medium paced bowling attack. Jordan Bryn and Faiyas Safri both captured two Umlazi wickets, assisting Quins to restrict Umlazi to 166 runs for the loss of six wickets in their reduced allocation of 25 overs.

The general sentiment at the changeover break was that the team conceded too many runs in the last 10 overs and the target was too high to achieve. This notion may have seemed correct in the sixth over when Quins was 36 runs for three wickets. However, this was dispelled through the dogged determination of number four batsman Aziz Khan who was undefeated with 57 runs, and sheer class by number six batsman Faiyas Safri who pulled, hooked and drove balls all around the park in an effort to beat the impending rain which could be seen moving along the valley toward the field.

With 20 overs required to constitute a result in the second innings and only 18 overs having being bowled, the scores tied and with the rain ever so close, Umlazi engaged in unsporting delaying tactics until a near squall struck the venue. However umpire Kevin Harvey would have none of that and insisted the delivery be bowled, which it eventually was and was adjudged to be a wide, giving Quins’ flagship team another desperately needed victory with a bonus point to elevate them up the stream one Challenge league log. However not to the extent of the team being totally clear of relegation yet. Quins requires just one more victory to be comfortably out of the relegation zone. With four matches remaining, this is a real probability.

The club congratulates its sixth team which took the Durban and District Cricket Union’s fifth division title, by virtue of being unbeaten this season and having been victorious at Chatsworth 114 on Saturday, 24 February against Chatsworth United 4.

Aside from the fourth and U13 teams, all Umbilo Harlequins teams have league matches or T20 fixtures this weekend. Coaching for juniors will be on Thursday at 4.40pm and seniors will practise at 4.30pm on Friday at the Harlequins nets.

Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270 for more club information.

UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club congratulates its sixth team which took the Durban and District Cricket Union’s fifth division title, by virtue of being unbeaten this season and having been victorious at Chatsworth 114 on Saturday, 24 February against Chatsworth United 4.

United batted first and scored 130 all out in 28.3 overs.

This total was on the low side, on a very small ground with a quick outfield. The best of the bowlers was opener Gavin Hazell who took 2/13 from six overs, Russell Mackenzie 2/13 off three overs and Ian Karg 2/10 off 1.3 overs.

The Quins 6 chase started steadily with an opening partnership of 44 in 10 overs. They were always in total control, ending on 132/3 wickets in just 24.4 overs. Ian Karg 26, Dieter Liebenberg 24*, Gavin Hazell 22* and Dylan Jenkins 20 all batted well. The win meant Quins 6 finished the season unbeaten to win the league.

Catches were successfully taken by George Morey, Gavin Hazel, Dieter Liebenberg, Lionel Cow Gaze and Ian Karg.