Win over Railways assuage Quins’ relegation fears

WHILE Harlequins Cricket Club’s junior teams had a break from youth league activity on 4 February, five of its senior teams were engaged in official matches at the weekend.

Quins’ flagship Challenge league team took on Railways from Maidstone in a stream one encounter.

Having lost six successive league matches and drawn the last, Quins was firmly entrenched at the bottom of the log, desperately seeking a victory to provide a shard of relief from possible relegation prospects.

Commencement of play was delayed significantly while contingency measures were implemented through application of hessian and successive compaction of the wicket’s surface during the morning. By 12.45pm the bully surface had cured sufficiently to allow play to commence by 1pm in an abbreviated format of 25 overs a side. This is the Quins’ forte.

Quins skipper Yusuf Abdulla won the coin toss and had no hesitation to request Railways to bat first on the yielding pitch, especially at the depressive north end. Yusuf captured one top end wicket with his fiery left arm seamers in his maximum allocation of five overs for just 15 runs, through the efforts of Sayed Cassim’s spectacular low down diving catch at cover. The other opening bowler Kevin Kettle realised early on that pure pace alone was not the ideal strategy on a sticky wicket and so applied varied tactics to deliver top order batsmen by virtue of leg before wicket adjudications, clean bowled, caught and bowled. He dismissed four batsmen for 14 runs in five overs. Mohammed Patel bowled with a good degree of variation too, capturing three Railways wickets for 10 runs in five overs.

Quins’ two spinners were ineffectual, probably due to the slow deviation of the wicket’s sticky surface from moisture residue. Railways accumulated 75 runs in 20 overs, losing nine wickets. Captain Yusuf Abdulla instructed Quins’ top order to exercise caution during their response which was headed by openers Andrea Del Moro and Aziz Khan. Both added real value to Quins’ cause in a commendable partnership of 24 runs. With the north-easterly breeze bringing in thick clouds, this game was under threat of termination prior to the end of the 20th over, which was when a result would have been determined if the match ended prematurely.

A flamboyant intervention by Quins batsman Momedthala Motala saw him top score with a valiant contribution of 27 undefeated runs in the 16th over. His effort combined with the contributions by the openers and the Quins bowling attack, helped the team to a desperately needed victory with a bonus point.

Quins is very much still in the grips of relegation woes and require successive victories to allay their current trepidation.

Quins 2 took on Newlands East Kensea in a 40 over challenge Reserve match at John Dory Drive. Quins had Newlands East Kensea 2 at 76 for six wickets, however Newlands’ unofficial umpires were adamant not to give their last recognised batsman out. Their umpires declined an obvious caught behind appeal and further declined three leg before wicket appeals. This allowed Newlands East Kensea 2 to score 158 for nine wickets in 30 overs. Eric Cavanagh was the best bowler, capturing three wickets for 29 runs in six overs. Sheldon Spindler scored 31 runs, Kalvin Venter got 17 runs and Andre Potgieter managed 13. However the ever-decreasing light never allowed the visiting team to get on top of their run accumulation and were dismissed in the 25th over, 42 runs short of the required target.

Quins’ fourth team was scheduled to use Wentworth Park for its 30 over division 2 match against INK Ntuzuma. However, continued illegal use of the facility known as Bayview cricket field by football enthusiasts has resulted in substantial temporary damage to the wicket surface, forcing this scheduled match to move to Lt King Park in Fynnland. Furthermore wanton acts of negligence, where quantities of red soil were placed on the pitch, contaminating the wicket surface, have reduced its performance capability. INK Ntuzuma accrued 152 runs for eight wickets in 25 overs, Webster Geekie was Quins’ most successful bowler in taking two wickets for 8 19 runs in five overs.

Quins 4 responded with 127 for five wickets in 25 overs, losing the match by 25 runs. Sameer Rhamden scored 21, Ryan Whitehurst got 23 runs and opening batsman Deneshan Pillay earned 62 runs. Tyler Jordan captured two ACC wickets. ACC surpassed Quins’ total with five wickets lost.

Quins third team took on ACC 3 from Amanzimtoti in a 30 over division one match at Harlequins 2. Brett Williams top scored with 26 runs, Tyler Jordan scored 23 runs and Darryn Moffitt got 14 runs to take Quins to a total of 105 runs. Quins 3 were unable to restrict or dismiss ACC 3 before they passed their target in 29 overs, winning by five wickets. Tyler Jordan took two wicket for Quins 3.

The striking aspect of this match was that 22 brave cricket players and their spectators continued with this match until its conclusion in persistent drizzle, despite being wholesomely drenched. It was a testimony to their dedication.

Juniors will be coached on Thursday at 4.30pm and seniors will practise from 4.30pm on Friday. Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270 for club information.