Quins 1sts lag as Simplex claims four wicket win

YET again the Durban and District Cricket Union announced the cancellation of all league matches at a late juncture on Saturday afternoon.

Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club’s top team travelled to Siripat Road for a 50 over KZNCU stream one challenge league match against Simplex RHCSC.

On their arrival, the team noticed that Simplex had not applied synthetic covers over the wicket for protection. However some late compaction allowed the match to commence two hours after the scheduled start, allowing for a 38 over a side encounter. As expected the preceding rain resulted in a slow wicket. Opening batsman Aziz Khan scored 21 runs, cementing his consistent run of positive form this season. Faisal Barakzai, carrying a knee injury, got 13 runs; Faiyas Safri managed 12 runs; Sayed Cassim scored 13 runs and Mohammed Patel top scored with an aggressive 24 runs to the team’s credit. Quins were 90 runs for six wickets, but only managed to accrue a score of 110 runs – well below par for the situation.

Due to the low target of Nelson, Quins opted to use their medium pace bowlers up front, a decision which proved to be flawed with a good deal of regret. This despite Mohamed Patel delivering his medium pacers with a high front on action in a commendable fashion, taking two wickets for 24 runs in eight overs. The regret was for having not used their revitalised front line striker Sylvester Sauli at the onset. He bowled a mere 18 deliveries for just five runs, capturing a fine wicket in the process by virtue of his delivery scraping the outside edge of an opposition batsman going through to the wicket keeper to secure the catch. Strangely Sylvester was removed from the attack, despite having consistently beaten the batsmen with pace and direction. Quins were always behind in this match through a combination of poor decision-making, irresponsible batsmanship and aside from Sylvester’s effort, no sting in their bowling attack. Simplex RHCSC won the match by four wickets with nine overs remaining.

This weekend, the third fifth and sixth teams have byes; the first team takes on ACC at Harlequins 1 from 9am; the second side tackle ACC at Amanzimtoti from 1pm; the fourth eleven takes on Newlands East Kensea at Harlequins 2; the U13 team plays against Silver Saints from 8.30am at Harlequins 1 and the U11 team plays Chatsworth Sporting at Chatsworth 306 from 1pm.

The club will be hosting a sixes tournament from 7am on Saturday, 16 December at 4.30pm.

Contact 031-467-3270 for more club information.