UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club played its eighth Challenge league match of the current season in the form of a 50 over a side match against Chatsworth United.
Quins like United in many aspects, last season had a total exodus of established players as a result of various reasons such as migration, retirement and younger players who were brought through their junior structures, but were lured away to other clubs purely by monetary reward. It is sad to see this lack of loyalty to clubs situated in the area in which they reside, in an amateur league overseen by a controlling union which is currently unable to enforce amateur ethics.
As a consequence, both clubs are currently situated at the bottom of stream one’s Challenge league and are in an interesting phase of rebuilding their respective teams. The venue Bayview 217, situated in Chatsworth, unlike south zone outfields had an outfield in sublime condition. The wicket however was not sufficiently compacted, allowing for right arm medium pace off-cut bowler Azhar Patel to acquire significant lateral deviation of the wicket surface and to remove five of United’s middle order and tail batsmen for 10 runs in just four overs. He was aided by medium pacer Aziz Khan who claimed two wickets for four runs off 21 deliveries and right arm away swing bowler, Andre Potgieter who spearheaded Quins’ bowing attack. He captured two wickets for 19 runs in four overs. Chatsworth United’s batsmen were dismissed for 47 runs in 17,3 overs. Quins’ fielding was of a very high standard. Quins’ opening batsman Thala Mothala was caught and bowled for a dozen runs. Ryan Baronet was the match’s top scorer, striking 27 runs, including two boundaries and a sixer. Quins used 47 deliveries to surpass the required target, thereby earning five crucial match points.
The Quins third team took on ACC in a 30 over division one match played at Hutchison Park 2 in Amanzimtoti on Sunday afternoon. Quins 3 batted first. Brett Williams continued in his fine form, scoring 59 runs. Captain Shane Manicom was undefeated on 36 runs and Pierre Horn got 31 runs, allowing Quins 3 to score a total of 219 runs. Quins’ bowling was average on the batting-friendly facility, allowing ACC 3 to tie up the match off the 360th and final delivery of the game for the loss of five wickets.
Quins’ fifth team took on East Coast 3 in a 30 over division three league match at SL Singh 2 on Sunday afternoon. Quins 5 managed 100 runs, being dismissed in the 23rd over. Jarrod Murgatroyd scored 18, Johan Hendriks compiled 19 runs, Quintin Oosthuizen and Willem (Wessel) Fourie struck 14 runs each. East Coast 3 managed to acquire the runs with just nine deliveries and one wicket remaining. M Havenga and away swing bower Theo Van Heerden had the best bowing statistics, capturing two wickets each at a commendable economy rate.
The U11 team played a 30 over south stream youth league match on Harlequins 2 on an outfield neglected by the municipal maintenance team. Quins amassed 204 runs.
Jordan Dekker got 41 runs. Reece Manicom retired not out on 50 runs, Cameron Laing was undefeated with 35 runs and Slade Locke was not out with 17 runs. ACC 2 were unable to contend with Quins’ attack primarily through the efforts of star performer Udhav Singh, who captured three wickets for four runs in four overs. Quins U11s won this encounter by a massive 167 runs, which would never have been possible without the endeavours of their manager Shane Manicom who ensured the outfield was fit enough to accommodate the match. The U11 team is currently at the top of the Durban and District Cricket Union U11 stream south youth league.
The Quins first, second, fourth and sixth teams have league matches this upcoming weekend. Coaching for juniors is at 5pm on Thursday. Practise for seniors is from 4.30pm on Friday.
