UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club first team took on a composite side from Ilembe in a 50 over a side stream one challenge league encounter at the Glehow Country Club on Sunday, 8 November.
All three Quins pace bowlers performed admirably, delivering a grand total of 94 balls, capturing three wickets and conceding 39 runs to Ilembe’s batsmen in their endeavours.
Wrist spinner Dieter Liebenberg was Quins’ most effectual bowler, capturing three wickets for 15 runs in 10 overs, seeing to the demise of Ilembe’s innings in 35,4 overs at 100 runs. Huey Naicker top scored for Quins with 16 runs, however there was some unfortunate officiating by the official umpires.
Quins were just 22 runs shy of Ilembe’s total, being dismissed in the 23rd over on a somewhat inconsistent wicket. Quins may well have been victorious, had the officiating been more consistent and fair to both teams.
Quins’ second team batted first in their challenge reserve league match against Phoenix 2 at the Rainham facility, which is no doubt the best cricket venue in the Phoenix prescient. Virtually all Quins batsmen contributed towards the grant tally of 171 runs. K Spykerman top scored with 41 runs. John Meintjies was next best with 25 runs. Saint John Piek added 22 runs and Daryn Mofitt managed 21 runs. Quins two was dismissed in the 38th over. Quick bowler Mark Gouveia captured three wickets for 10 runs in six overs. Right arm orthodox slow bowler Saint John Piek took five wickets for 26 runs in 6,1 overs, helping to dismiss Phoenix 2 for 118 runs in 26 overs. Quins won by 53 runs.
Quins third team’s opposition Simplex RHSCS 3 respectfully conceded their match due to a mortality in their ranks.
Quins 4 took on East Coast 3 in a 30 over division three match at Harlequins’ main oval on Sunday. A light south easterly wind off the sea did not really assist swing bowlers with lateral ball deviation through the air as one may have expected, as the atmospheric conditions were unusually dry. This was all conducive to the high number of runs scored at 328.
Quins batsman Clinton Abrahams produced another fine innings, which initially commenced with a degree of circumspect, having solid defence especially off the front foot, later giving way to powerful slogs most of which were against the wind. He cleared the clubhouse on two occasions, an innings which he top scored with 47 runs. Chris Schulenburg scored 36 runs in a similar fashion to see Quins 4 through to a commendable 167 runs, losing six wickets in their 30 overs. East Coast three which comprised exclusively of hearing impaired players, some of which are representatives of the national deaf team, chased towards their set target right through to the third final delivery of this humdinger of a match. They required seven runs in three deliveries in substandard luminance. With two deliveries remaining, East Coast required seven runs, but failed in their endeavour by just six runs at the termination. Avinash Kallichuran top scored for East Coast 3.
Quins 5 took on Simplex Seven at Lt King Park Fynnland on Saturday. Simplex 7 was dismissed for 92 runs in 21,1 overs. Away swing bowlers Warren Jordan claimed four wickets for 15 runs in six overs and Dylan Jenkins captured four wickets for seven runs in 25 deliveries. Quins 5’s catching was superlative, having taken seven catches. Warren Jordan held three, Lionel Gaze took one, Zane Gaze managed one, Jason Rouse claimed one and team captain Keith Baxter successfully held one.
A handy opening partnership of about 50 runs by Lionel Gaze and Jason Rouse with positive contributions by S Govender and Dean Jordan allowed Quins 5 a victory by seven wickets.
On Saturday, 14 November Quins fifth team plays a 30 over division 5 game against Delta 7 at SL Singh 2. The first team takes on Umzinto at Harlequins 1 and the third side challenge Chatsworth Sporting 3 at Harlequins 2.
All other teams have byes.
A senior training session will be held on Friday from 4.30pm at the Harlequins nets. Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for further club information.
