Sublime catch sends Quins 1sts to seventh on league log
The wicket appeared to be unprepared and overutilised, the outfield full of haystacks.
UMBILO Harlequins Cricket club’s first and fourth teams were engaged in league matches on Sunday.
The first team travelled to Umzinto for a scheduled 50 over stream one challenge league match against Umzinto at the ICC venue.
The Umzinto area experienced some overnight rain, causing some damage to one aspect of the wicket due to a cut in the protective pitch cover. Consequently the match commenced three hours late and was reduced to 35 overs a side. Quins opening batsman Faisal Barakzai top scored with 53 runs, Mohammed Patel managed 23 runs at number seven, allowing Quins a moderate total of 139 runs, all out in the 35th over.
With sporadic contribution of runs by Umzinto batsmen throughout their innings, the match was Umzinto’s for the taking, especially when number eight batsman D Govender smashed two sixes and two fours. It appeared as if Quins was set to lose this encounter when, with just two runs required and no spare wickets remaining, Govender launched the ball into the deep outfield where Willem Fourie took a sensational catch to dismiss the big striking, right handed batsman. This earned Quins five crucial log points to elevate them to seventh position in the KZNCU stream one challenge league.
The fourth team took on Hillary Malvern in a 30 over division two match at the diminutive Fairfield Park, Hillary.
The wicket appeared to be unprepared and overutilised, the outfield full of haystacks. Hillary Malvern accrued 96 runs in short time, before Quins struck with their first wicket in the 14th over. However Quins fielders dropped six catches prior to the 15th over. Right arm orthodox slow bowler Eric Cavanagh captured four wickets to restrict Hillary Malvern to 169 runs in 30 overs. Quins’ batting response was abysmal as they lost regular wickets for insufficient contributions, falling shy of the target by a mere dozen runs. Shaveer Bhopal top scored with 40 runs. Clinton got 22 runs, Mark Len Ferna De la Motte managed 19 runs Matt Hilderbrandt struck 15 runs, Eric Cavanagh contributed 13 runs and Reinhardt Olivier hit a dozen and a half.
All Quins teams will be engaged in league matches on 18 and 19 February with the exception of the second side who are likely to commence their T20 games on 26 February,
Junior coaching will be held on Thursday from 5pm at the Harlequins nets and seniors will practise from 4.30pm on Friday.
Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for further club information.
