Verulam too strong for Quins
The Harlequins first cricket team was beaten by a stronger Verulam team in a challenge league match on Sunday.
THERE was a two hour postponement to the start of the Umbilo Harlequins stream one challenge league cricket encounter against Verulam at the weekend.
The match was reduced from 50 overs to 38 overs a side. Quins lost a vital toss of the coin and batted first. Dylan Labuschagne continued with his rich vein of form with successive meaningful contributions at the helm of Quins' batting order with yet another tally of 16 runs. Middle order batsman, Sheldon Swanepoel, again played with exquisite balance, top scoring with 32 runs and taking Quins through to a below par total of 101 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
Verulam's two opening batsmen, being accustomed to their wicket, seemed to have no real problems in dealing with the Quins attack. The two openers took Verulam to a score of 66 runs before the first wicket fell. Soon after a succession of another three wickets fell, leaving Quins with faint hope of trying to dismiss Verulam prior to achieving their 102 run target.
Adam Mather was Quins's most economical bowler, taking one wicket for 14 runs in 40 well-directed deliveries. Sean Edwards was the most successful bowler, capturing three wickets for 27 runs in 30 balls. However, their valiant endeavours were not enough to bring about an unexpected victory for Quins.
Verulam won by six wickets.
All Durban and District Cricket Union matches were cancelled by the controlling authority due to rain on Friday night and early Saturday morning. However, Quins 6 took on ACC 5 at Harlequins 2 on Saturday afternoon, defeating them narrowly in a cliff-hanger of a 30-over match which will Quins will unfortunately not be credited with any log points for.
This weekend sees the final full round of cricket, wherein all eight Umbilo Harlequins cricket teams will be engaged in league matches.
Thereafter there will be a reduction in intensity of games through to season's end in late March.
Coaching sessions for juniors will be from 5pm on Thursday, and practice for seniors will be from 4.30pm on Friday at the Harlequins nets.
