Bleak weekend of cricket for all but Quins’ U11s
Quins under elevens played Delta Under Elevens 2 at Phoenix Tynebridge on Sunday morning 6 October.
WITH the exception of the U11 team, Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club had a bleak weekend’s worth of match results.
The first team played their first match of the season after last week’s wash-out at Verulam. They took on Pinetown in a 50-over challenge league game played at Lahee Park in Pinetown.
The match was played out in heavily overcast atmospheric conditions and a strong, cold southerly wind prevailed. Remarkably, rain held off until just after the conclusion of the match at 2.30pm.
A young Quins team batted first at 9am with no-one really making marked contributions. Perhaps four minor exceptions were in the form of Kevin Kettle who played a lengthy responsible innings of 21 runs in the number four berth and was eventually yorked by T Spence. Jordan Grobbelaar batted with maturity for his 14 runs and was caught and bowled by C Romerill. Number 11 batsman Sylvester Sauli showed Quins’ specialist batsmen how it should be done, contributing 18 runs eventually holding at square leg while attempting an aggressive pull shot. Number 10 batsman Dieter Liebenberg played a captain’s innings, being undefeated with 16 runs. Quins were dismissed for a well under-par tally of 119 runs, despite the adverse dank atmospheric conditions.
Quins’ aspirations of winning this encounter with a small total was given some hope when seamer Sylvester Sauli trapped Pinetown’s opening batsman K Abdulla LBW for nought and number three batsman K Stirling ended scoreless in the initial over of Pinetown’s innings. But then Pinetown consolidated their position to 72 runs before the third wicket fell. The introduction of unorthodox, slow style bowling did nothing to quell the impetus of Pinetown’s run accumulation and they soon passed their victory target of 120 runs, losing just four wickets. Best Quins bowler was Sylvester Sauli who delivered just 4 overs conceding 18 runs claiming two wickets.
The first Saturday team (formally known as the sixth side) played Crusaders 5 at Crusaders on Saturday, 5 October. Crusaders scored 213 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 30-over allocation. Quins 5 scored 186 all out in 29,1 overs. Andre Viljoen top scored with 47 runs, Dwane Badenhorst managed 28 runs, veteran Keith Fraser scored 21 runs and George Morey got 18 runs. Crusaders won by 37 runs.
Quins U11s played Delta U11s 2 at Phoenix Tynebridge on Sunday morning, 6 October. Quins amassed 277 for the loss of four wickets in 30 overs. Heath Manicom was undefeated on 56, Seth Majiera scored 59 not out, Cameron De villiers compiled 29 runs and retired, Aiden Reid got 22 runs, Jaan Fredericks scored 15 not out and Ryan Wood was undefeated with 17 runs.
A skilled Quins bowling attack dismissed Delta under 11s for just 17 runs, with Ryan Wood claiming 4 wickets for 2 runs in 3 overs, Neo Jones taking 2 wickets for 3 runs in 3 overs and Deen Fredericks being accredited with three wickets for a mere one run in 2 overs. A fine performance indeed by the juniors in the U11 south league. Credit must be given to the coach and supportive parents
All other matches were postponed due to a dispute between the Durban and District Cricket Union and the Ethekwini Parks South Department. Quins hopes a resolution will be made this week so that all local matches can continue.
Juniors coaching sessions are on Thursdays at 5pm and seniors practise from 4 pm on Friday.
Contact Ernest for further club information.
