Slow bowlers fail to fire for Quins first team
Quins' opening batsman Gareth Wissing compiled an innings of 39 runs with an array of strokes to all quadrants of the field.
THE Ethekwini Municipality Parks South Department again failed dismally by not cutting lawn on Harlequins outfields last week, resulting in Umbilo Harlequins first team having to reschedule its important KwaZulu-Natal stream one challenge league match to Hutchison Park at Amanzimtoti, thereby losing the element of home advantage.
Quins’ opening batsman Gareth Wissing compiled an innings of 39 runs with an array of strokes to all quadrants of the field.
Dylan Labuschage managed 10 runs, Sheldon Swanepoel scored 13 runs, Devan Dippenaar scored 18, Kevin Kettle a dozen and contrary to recent performances, the lower middle order performed well through a cameo partnership of 40 runs between Tyrell Smith with 22 and Kalvin Venter who second top scored with 22 runs, to take the tally to 169 runs. This was a below par score on a slow, but good wicket with a quick outfield and Quins needed to deliver an extraordinary bowling exhibition to triumph in this encounter.
Being a slow wicket, Quins’ seamer bowlers were not expected to be penetrative and just one wicket was claimed between the three seamers. However the three slow bowlers who were expected to make inroads into the ACC batting line up failed to do so and performed poorly, taking just two wickets between them. This resulted in ACC passing the target with five wickets remaining in the 38th over. In retrospect Quins’ first team was outplayed by a stronger opposition on the day in an originally scheduled home match, played at an away venue, due to the incompetence of the Ethekwini Parks South department.
It was through to the endeavours of Shane Manicom that arrangements were made to have the long lawn trimmed by contractors at a late juncture, which enabled Quins third side to fulfil their division one encounter against Newlands Cricket Club’s third team at Harlequins one. A superb batting performance by the upper middle order saw Quins 3 amass 133 runs for the loss of five wickets in a reduced 25 over match. Opener John Meintjies scored 10 runs, Warren Torguis managed 25 runs, Brett Williams top scored with 51 runs and Chris Reid compiled 25 runs. The two prime wicket-takers for Quins 3 were seamers John Meintjies, who took three wickets for 16 runs in 5 overs and Coennie Germishuizen who claimed three wickets for 24 runs in 5 overs. Newlands 3 were dismissed for 112 runs in 23, 2 overs. Quins won by 21 runs and could be at the top of division one, having lost just one match during the current season.
Quins second side played a 40 over challenge reserve match against East Coast on a green wicket at Lt King Park. However Quins 2 were dismissed for 81 runs in 25,1 overs, with just the openers Kevin Norris and Mark Kritzinger scoring 18 and 17 runs respectively. No-one else scored double figures, which was indicative of the inability to adapt their techniques to the adverse conditions of a green surface, like the two veteran opening batsmen did.
Quins 2’s defence of their total was equally poor with only the quick bowler Mark Gouveia having any credible bowling statistics such as 5 overs, one wicket for 21 runs. East Coast 2 passed Quins 2’s total with just two wickets lost in the 12th over, thereby winning by eight wickets.
The final coaching session for the year but not for the season, for U11s will be held on Thursday, 5 December at 5pm. Contact Shane Manicom on 083-402-7964. Seniors will practise on Wednesday and Friday at 4.30pm. Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270 for further club information.
