Quins’ losing streak ends with wrist spinners’ assault on Umzinto

FIVE of Umbilo Harlequins Cricket Club teams were engaged in league matches on Sunday, 2 March.

After a string of unsuccessful league matches through losses, Quins first team took on Umzinto at Harlequins in a significant match in which a victory would stave off the outside possibility of a demotion in the new season.

Quins batted first on a well compacted dry wicket with a poorly groomed but marginally acceptable outfield, in clear atmospheric conditions. Favourable batting conditions prevailed throughout the day.

Kevin Kettle and Dylan Labuschagne laid a good foundation with yet another sound opening partnership by scoring 16 and 28 runs respectively. The endeavours of the middle order was again unsuccessful with the exception of number six batsman Andre Viljoen, who continued his very successful season by being undefeated four runs shy of his half century.

The innings comprised an array of straight drives, cover drives, off and on drives, mostly off the front foot combined with a solid defence. It was flawless with no errors. This was peak perfection personified. Ernest Kettle staved off the middle order collapse at number eight, adding 19 runs to the end tally which was considered to be fair at 141 for seven after 50 overs.

Quins realised their chances of defending this total was fairly good, realising that Umzinto did not have a strong batting line-up. Kevin Kettle bowled with real pace and determination with the new ball, having two deliveries edged over and through the slip cordon, eventually having the prime Umzinto opener held out at point, taking one wicket for 12 runs in five overs. Deetlef Stroh extracted some significant lateral air movement, but this was early swing right out of the hand and the direction was somewhat wayward, but was nevertheless unusual to experience a four piece ball doing so much through the air.

With the pacemen not gaining much lateral movement off the wicket, the two wrist spinners were used almost in tandem. It seemed as if this was a competition within the match to see which of the two could cause most damage to the opposition batting line-up, which evidently acutely lacked defensive capacity. Right arm wrist spinner Dieter Liebenberg took four wickets for six runs off six overs and left arm wrist spinner Dylan Labuschagne took five wickets for 12 runs in 7. 3 overs which included a well-deserved hat trick. Umzinto was dismissed for 70 runs in 21,3 overs. Quins won by 71 runs, taking five much-needed log points from this match, which included a bonus point for winning within prescribed 80 percent of the allocated overs.

The fourth team played Chatsworth Sporting in a 30 over division two league match at Harlequins two. Sporting were dismissed for 85 runs in 28 overs. Seamer Donovan Steele claimed three wickets for 19 runs in six overs. Medium paced swing Theo Van Heerden took two wickets for eight runs in six overs. R Price took two wickets for 14 runs in three overs and medium paced seamer Clinton Abrahams took two wickets for 16 runs in five overs.

Despite a minor partnership of 20 odd runs by Deno Govender and JP Dreyer, who managed 14 and 10 runs respectively, the rest of the batsmen failed to apply sufficient technique to stave off capitulation at 52 runs in just 15 overs. Quins four lost by 33 runs.

The fifth side took on INK three in a 30 over division three match at Wentworth Park, Bayview. Quins five scored 107 runs in 25 overs, with Ryan Baronet top scoring on 47 runs, Chris Roets getting 14 runs and Stephen Roets managing 11 runs.

Quins five could not dismiss INK three for less than their score of 107 runs, but through the combined efforts of Huey Naicker, who took four wickets for 34 runs in six overs, and A Grobbelaar who claimed three wickets for 21 runs in six overs, Quins five managed to dismiss INK three’s last batsman with the scores level on 107 in 23 overs, having tied the match, taking two log points from the game.

The U11 team played Amanzimtoti U11’s first side at Harlequins two in a 30 over stream one youth league match on Sunday morning. ACC batted first, scoring 85 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 30 overs. Jaan Fredericks took two wickets for 15 runs in five overs. Heath Manicom was economical in his spell of six overs, taking one wicket for 11 runs. Likewise was Vishay Ramchander who took one wicket for eight runs in four overs. This was a favourable situation for Quins U11s to have been in as sound application would have enabled them to chase down their target with relative ease. However poor application by many of their batsmen resulted in Quins being dismissed just one run shy of a tie with one delivery remaining in their innings. Only Brennan David with 15 runs, Heath Manicom on 17 runs and Keenan David not out on 13 runs, had any impact on this match with their batting. This was a stunning loss as Quins U11s were undefeated and were aspirant of winning this league. The U11s comprise a large player base and it is sincerely hoped that this loss was not the case where parents may have applied undue pressure of the coach to play their sons, who might not have been a natural first choice candidate for the team. The rotational system should only be applied where possible and not in crucial matches. The coach of this little extended outfit is performing commendably and is well supported technically by some capable assistants.

With the exception of the fifth and U11 teams, all other Quins sides will be engaged in league encounters on Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 March. The firsts, seconds and sixth sides have home matches.

Training for U11s will be on Thursday at 5pm and for seniors, on Friday at 4.30pm.

Call Contact Ernest on 031-467-3270031-467-3270 for further club information.