Verulam claims five wicket victory over Quins 1
Quins lost what was perceived to be an insignificant coin toss and were requested to bat first, having the worst of the luminance and debatably, the best of the wicket.
ELECTRICAL thunderstorms which were particularly prevalent to the north of Durban on Friday, 26 February, resulted in over-hydration of too many cricket grounds and wickets to allow for the final big weekend round of local league cricket.
This left Durban and District Cricket Union with no feasible alternative but to unilaterally cancel all lower league fixtures early on Saturday morning. Surprisingly both Harlequins’ wickets and fields could have easily accommodated league matches by as early on Saturday morning.
However, Umbilo Harlequins’ first team travelled to Verulam for the fifth last 50 over Challenge league match against Verulam on Sunday morning. Prevailing overcast skies with a refreshing, gentle northerly breeze would have been an ideal combination of conditions along with a well manicured outfield and a hard compressed wicket. However the latter was not to be, as the outfield comprised an undesirable lengthy species of coarse, proud grass and the wicket surface was poorly compacted with bits of loose material, indicative of a wicket which would produce inconsistent bounce of the cricket ball.
Quins lost what was perceived to be an insignificant coin toss and were requested to bat first, having the worst of the luminance and debatably, the best of the wicket. Opening batsman Sean Edwards batted superbly with exquisite cover, off, straight and on drives and an assortment of other strokes and was eventually adjudged to be leg before by umpire Ganga with his score on 32 runs and the team total at 67 runs, for two wickets in the 18th over. Quins’ number three batsman, who was imported from the third team, played superbly to to be held out off the bowling of left arm seamer Maiter, for 30 well earned runs. Aside from two double digit scores in the middle order, no-one else really got going, resulting in Quins being dismissed for a below par but nevertheless defendable 128 runs.
Verulam opening batsman Prenellan Subrayan who eventually scored 32 runs, was dropped off the fourth delivery of the innings at point off fast bowler Kevin Kettle who sustained a side strain and was unable to continue after 14 deliveries, leaving Devyn Scott to spearhead Quins’ attack. Neither he nor medium pacer Trevian Peter could extract sufficient lateral movement on the seamer, unfriendly and slow wicket, despite bowling accurate lines at times. Quins’ slow bowlers were introduced in the 17th over. In a refreshing spell of 10 consecutive overs of left arm orthodox bowling, Josh Henry varied his pace into the northerly breeze, mixing loop and guile with quicker deliveries as well as accurately launched balls with decent rotation to grip off the wicket surface and move away from right handed batsman on a good length. He captured the sole five wickets which Quins could capture, for a mere two dozen runs, being the star of Quins’ bowling attack. C Anthony was undefeated with 28 runs and D Govender with a dozen runs took Verulam through to a five wicket victory.
On Sunday, 6 March, the first team takes on Southern Natal in a crucial bottom of the log clash at Harlequins 1. The fourths challenge Chesterville in a 30 over division three match at Harlequins 2 and the U13 team plays a 30 over youth league match at Chatsworth 217, also referred to as Bayview. All other teams have completed their league matches for the current season.
A six a side competition will be held at Harlequins on Saturday, 19 March from 7.30am and the annual awards event will be at the Combined Fynnland Sports Club on Friday, 8 April.
Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for club information.
