Eight Quins cricket teams to participate in league games this weekend
Quins mixed team allowed members to send down a few overs each and the fourth team were provided with 32 overs of valuable game time.
THERE was no formally-sanctioned league cricket on Sunday 5 October due to Eid celebrations.
However, there was a full day’s cricket at the park, which was shared between the juniors who used Harlequins main oval in the morning and Umbilo Harlequins fourth team who played a match against a combined club team in the afternoon.
The junior match comprising mixed U11 and U13 teams played a 20 over practise match in overcast conditions, allowing coaches to assess players skills and potential, but more importantly identify flaws and correct minor anomalies in technique.
This was a highly successful exercise and credit should be given to Shane Manicom for his unfaltering endeavours and coaching expertise, as well as to parents who assisted him.
At high noon ‘Quins fourth team took on a mix of players from the first team, third side and three capable juniors. The mixed team batted first in partly cloudy conditions on a soft wicket due to overnight rain, but was drying and improving when clouds dispersed as day progressed. 185 runs were accrued with first side opening batsman Dylan Labuschagne displaying his true mettle and capability against some reasonable bowling by the fourth team whose bowlers performed quite admirably.
Dylan retired with 53 runs to his credit. Quins mixed team allowed members to send down a few overs each and the fourth team were provided with 32 overs of valuable game time. Josh Henry delivered an extraordinary spell of slow left arm orthodox. A new member was frightfully accurate and had some of the fourth team players guessing with accurately generated medium paced deliveries which moved away acutely off the wicket. Members of the club are reminded that it is the correct etiquette to acquire permission from the captain to depart the venue, whether it be prior to, or after termination of any match. Like the junior session in the morning, the senior session was a fruitful exercise as it only provided an opportunity to get sight of new players capability, it also served as a morale booster and catalyst for enthusiasm for the season ahead.
All eight Umbilo Harlequins teams will be engaged in league fixtures on the weekend of 11 and 12 October.
Strategically, the first team has a double header in the stream one of the challenge league. On Saturday morning they take on Umzinto in a 50 over match at Harlequins one.
On Sunday morning they play a 50 over game against Simplex RHCSC at Siripat Road one.
The second team play Verulam 2 in a 40 over challenge reserve match in the afternoon at Phoenix Sidmore. The club will request this match to be played at Harlequins 1. The third team will verse Pinetown three in a 30 over game at Lahee Park 1 in the afternoon. The fourth 11 take on Merebank 2 at Dhuburi Road in a 30 over match in the afternoon.
The fifth team play Verulam 5 at Harlequins 2 in the afternoon. The sixth team play Railways fourth team at Phoenix Stonebridge in a 30 over encounter on Saturday afternoon. The U13 team play their Railways opposition at Phoenix Sidmore in a 30 over youth league match on Sunday morning and finally the U11 team play against Chesterville in a 30 over youth league match at 8.30am at Harlequins 1 on Sunday morning.
Junior coaching sessions will be held at the Harlequins nets at 5pm on Thursdays. Contact Shane Manicom on 083-402-7964 for information on juniors. Senior training will be on Fridays at 4.30pm.
