UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club’s first team played their final two 20-over matches of the current season on Sunday, 22 March.
The Quins wicket and outfield appeared better than good on Saturday, 21 March.
However a brief intervention by a moderate sub-tropical thunderstorm early Saturday evening put paid to the prospects of a hard, fast wicket as, by the commencement time of 9am on Sunday, the surface was yielding despite having some good bounce and carry, possibly brought about by further compaction with a heavy roller.
Quins fortuitously won the toss of the coin and elected to exploit the dampness to their advantage by bowling first. All Quins seamers performed admirably, conceding an average of about four and a half runs per over with Sean Edward being the most successful by capturing three wickets for 10 runs off three overs. Right arm wrist spinner Dieter Liebenberg claimed two wickets for 16 runs in three overs, in an innings which was reduced from 20 to 15 overs a side due to time lost as a result of a late commencement. Challenge league stream one table toppers UKZN compiled a moderate total of 84 runs on a fairly difficult surface due to the water content. Utilisation of a second slow bowler on a seamer friendly wicket was undoubtedly a fundamental flaw of choice by Quins.
Quins’ hopes and aspirations of beating UKZN were enhanced when high level clouds gave way to bright sunshine, improving the wicket surface somewhat during their innings. The decision to open Quins’ innings with hard striker Clinton Abrahams was the correct one. Despite him having missed a high percentage of deliveries, he was undefeated on 37 runs, while Sean Edwards scored 11 and Kevin Kettle was undefeated on 10 runs, with a team total a dozen short of UKZN.
With that loss, Quins were effectively out of the competition in which semi-final matches would be played on 29 March.
However there was still a 20 over afternoon match to be played at Comtech Umlazi against Umlazi Cricket Club. Play was delayed for three quarters of an hour due to sodden adjacent wickets. Dylan Labuschagne played a discreetly responsible innings in the opening berth, scoring 66 runs His partner Sean Edward scored 30 runs, striking three sixes, Jason Wagner scored 27 runs to take Quins to a competitive tally of 167 runs in their reduced allocation of 18 overs.
Through separate, unexpected anomalies, Quins were two men amiss in the field, but were nevertheless confident in pulling off an emphatic victory against weaker opposition. This they did by 62 runs through accurate bowling on an unpredictable wicket. Medium paced seam bowler Wayne Rittmuller took four wickets for a dozen runs in three overs, Sean Edward claimed three wickets for 18 runs in 4,4 overs and Dieter Liebenberg took two wickets for 15 runs in four overs of right arm slow bowling. Umlazi were dismissed for 105 runs in 17,4 overs.
The club will hold two back-to-back events this weekend with an annual awards allocation being held at the Combined Fynnland Sports Club, Lt King Park off Garcin Place on Friday, 27 March from 6pm and a six-a-side tournament at Harlequins cricket fields, Van Riebeeck Park, off Garcin Place from 8am on Saturday, 28 March. Those who wish to enter a team in the tourney must attend a compulsory meeting to be held at Harlequins on Thursday, 26 March at 6pm.
Contact Ernest on 031 4673270 for further club information.
