Quins seal bonus point win over Southern Natal
There will be an one month’s interlude until the next round of cricket matches next year
UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club’s first team played its sixth 50 over stream one Challenge league match and final game of the current year against a composite team, Southern Natal at Creston College on Sunday, 13 December.
The aptly named ground is situated on the crest of one of the many green rolling hills due south of Port Shepstone.
The brisk southerly wind accompanied by overcast conditions were challenging to the exposed cricketers and spectators. However conditions were probably more bearable than the usual hot, sunny humid days that cricketers often have to endure and was devoid of any menacing, match-destroying rain.
Quins lost the toss and was instructed to field first on a reasonable wicket, with some extent of live grass and evidence of a some lack of compaction due to softer surfaced sections, all indicative of a wicket which would produce variable bounce. The outfield was green, relatively slow with a diminutive boundary on the north western side of the ground.
Opening bowler Kevin Kettle delivered his first spell predominantly at brisk pace, but introduced a higher percentage of slower balls in his second spell with the degraded ball capturing two wickets for 39 runs in 10 overs. Pace bowler Devyn Scott also bowled in two spells. He was Quins most successful bowler capturing four wickets for 24 runs in 10 overs. Quins third seamer Adam Mather, after bowling just three overs, dislocated his shoulder joint during a brilliant diving catch in the outfield. As a result, he was unable to continue with his bowling endeavours. Slow bowler Dieter Liebenberg claimed two wickets for 23 runs in nine overs.
Southern Natal at one stage seemed to capitulate, having lost six wickets for 76 runs. However their innings was resurrected through the efforts of tail-ender H Zulu who top scored for Southern Natal with 31 runs, taking their eventual total to 154, a defendable tally despite the relatively small outfield.
Opener Huey Naicker was again brilliant in scoring 36 runs, along with other opener Josh Henry who scored 16 runs in a fine opening partnership comprising 43 runs. Sean Edward struck the ball powerfully to the on-side, with three fours and a six during a brief innings consisting of 20 runs. Kevin Kettle who struck three fours and three sixes, was undefeated on 41 along with Dieter Liebenberg who was undefeated on 15 runs when Quins surpassed Southern Natal’s total in the 34th over. Quins will be accredited with four match points plus a bonus point for securing a victory prior to the completion of the 38th over and elevate to the upper middle sector of the KZNCU Stream one challenge league log.
There will be an one month’s interlude until the next round of cricket matches next year, when the fifth team take on Verulam 3 at Lt King Park at Fynnland on Saturday, 9 January. The second and third sides have away matches on Sunday, 10 January. All the rest of Quins’ teams will resume their league campaigns on Sunday, 17 January, including the U11s and U15 teams.
Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270 for further club information.
