ON Sunday 7 February, Umbilo Harlequins’ first cricket team travelled beyond the Durban and District zone to take on a composite side from the Umzinto district in a 50 over stream one Challenge league match.
The outfield was tatty, soft, yielding, with uncut, coarse lawn.
The wicket was dry with numerous cracks on the north end. Weather conditions were clear and sunny with a moderate south westerly wind, great conditions for a tough but interesting encounter.
Quins won the coin toss for the umpteenth time this season and chose to bat first. The usual poor batting endeavour brought about Quins’ demise at 62 runs in the 28th over. Two batsmen’s efforts were perhaps worth lauding. Quins’ number six left hander Trevian Peter played with a good deal of circumspect, was watchful of all deliveries and more importantly mindful of Quins’ dire batting situation. He just managed to reach double figures. The second Quins batsman worth mentioning was captain Dieter Liebenberg who played with some abandon, especially with short deliveries on the off-side, executing his favourite square cut to perfection to be undefeated at the end of the innings on 15 runs. Quins’ strike bowlers aspired to use the unpredictability of the slow Umzinto wicket to remove some of the top order before the luncheon interval, but this required an immaculate line of delivery which Quins failed to implement successfully enough. This despite having removed both Umzinto opening batsmen in the 10th over with the team tally on 18 runs.
Not long after the interlude, Quins were hopeful that an introduction of their slow bowlers would prove effectual. However this was not the case as Umzinto number three batsman V Singh could not be dislodged, scoring an undefeated 31 runs to take his team to a seven wicket victory in the 29th over.
Two seam bowlers worthy of mention from purely from an economics perspective are Devyn Scott whose five overs cost just five runs, capturing one wicket and Adam Mather whose 25 deliveries cost just eight runs.
The second team took on ACC 2 in a 20-over group match at Harlequins on Sunday afternoon. Opening batsman Sheldon Spindler scored 24 runs and Jacobs got 35 runs, taking Quins 2 to a below par total which would be difficult to defend on a good wicket with a fairly quick outfield.
Quins bowlers performed poorly, being non-penetrative and uneconomical with the sole exception of Warren Jordan who delivered with flair, zest and enthusiasm. He was much better than good, in fact he was exceptional in capturing two wicket for seven runs in four overs. Had Quins had just one more bowler like Warren, they would undoubtedly won this encounter, which was not to be as the well-motivated ACC 2 outfit from Amanzimtoti surpassed Quins’ total with seven wickets down and nine deliveries remaining.
Quins fourth team played their 30 over division three match against Chatsworth Sporting at Cato Manor 4. Paceman Willem Fourie was most successful in capturing three wickets for 22 runs in six overs and right arm away-swing bowler Theo Van Heerden got two wickets for 14 runs in six overs to restrict Sporting to 166 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 30 overs. Clinically correct opening batsman Casper Groenewald compiled 37 runs, Donovan Steele was undefeated on 33 runs and number six batter Jarod Murgatroyd top scored and was not out on 44. They took Quins 4 to a relatively easy victory in a high scoring match.
Quins fifth team, formerly referred to as Quins 6, had an uncharacteristically poor match against Simplex RHCSC at Siripat 2 Reservoir Hills on Saturday afternoon. Simplex RHCSC 5 scored 185 runs for four wickets in 30 overs. Medium pacer Darryl lavender claimed two wickets for 17 runs in six overs. Quins’ response was meagre in achievement, as they fell 102 runs short of their desired target, being dismissed in the 10th over. Opening batman Jason Rouse top scored with 24 runs and Ian Karg achieved 15 runs.
The U13 team played a 30 over south stream league match against Kwangolosi at Harlequins 1 on Sunday morning. The opposition posted a total of 72 runs after being dismissed in 20 overs. Keenen David, Vishay Ramchander and Seth Addinall took two wickets each. Quins U13s surpassed the target with ease losing just two wickets in their endeavour, with seven overs to spare.
The annual awards event as well as a six-a-side tourney is being considered for the end of season in March. All seven Quins cricket teams will be involved in league matches this coming weekend. The first and Saturday teams will have home matches, the rest will have away games.
Training and coaching sessions will continue as usual. Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270 for club information.
Easy win by the boys.
Good batting performances by Keaton Venter having to retire on 50, Cameron Laing really got the innings moving with his 46 coming only 36 balls. They were also backed up by Jaedin Reddi with 21 off 26 balls.
Nice all round bowling and fielding performance with most of the bowlers getting amongst the wickets. Jared Finlay agreed to the wicket keeping duties for this game to allow Reece Manicom a chance to bowl, he opened the bowling, 4 over’s, 3 maidens, 2 wickets, for 1 run. Thanks Jared. Brody Jordan opened with Reece and finished with figures of 2 over’s, 1 maiden, 3 for 3. 3 runs he conceded were wides. Brennan David bowled 5 balls and finished with 2 wickets for 0 runs.
