Quins claim five points from slaying Southern Natal

UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club’s first team played their 17th match of the current season, a 50 over stream one Challenge league game against Southern Natal at Harlequins one.

Usually autumn brings about slight reprieve after a long, torturous summer.

However the humidity on Sunday, 6 March was relentless with not a cloud in sight, exposing players to hours of ultraviolet hazard. Quins rightly elected to bat on a dry wicket which had plate fractures in a few places. Ball speed across the outfield was lightning fast.

Opening batsmen Kevin Kettle and Sean Edwards got Quins to 54 runs in 15 overs when Sean was caught for 19 runs. Kevin was bowled out for 23 runs in the 17th over with the score on 62 runs. Aside from a contribution of 15 runs in the middle order, no-one else made any meaningful contribution resulting in Quins being dismissed for 105 runs, in an extremely important league match for both teams.

Two run outs of capable batsmen by Quins fielders as well as two wickets by left arm orthodox slow bowler Josh Henry for 18 runs, aided Quins’ quest.

However it was the late introduction of fast bowler Devyn Scott into the attack, which laid waste to the remnants of the opposition’s astute upper middle order and an inexperienced lower middle order and tail. He claimed four wickets for just four runs in 16 well-directed deliveries. Two catches worth mentioning are the backward pedalling, one hand fully extended by Dieter Liebenberg at mid-wicket off the bowling of seamer Sean Edward, to displace Southern Natal’s opening batsman and top score for 33 runs, and the brilliantly judged, two-handed forward-falling catch off the bowling of Devyn Scott by Josh Henry on the deep mid-off boundary to get rid of Morne Bishop who scored 23 runs.

Quins won this important league match by 13 runs, earning five logs points to relieve their relegation woes somewhat.

Quins’ fourth team had their second last 30 over division three match of the season moved from SL Singh to Harlequins 2 on Sunday afternoon. Chesterville 1 scored 165 runs for the loss of six wickets in 30 overs. Chris Scullenburg took a stunning catch in a close position and Raven Price successfully held on to two great catches in the deep outfield. Wickets were shared fairly evenly among all eight of Quins’ bowlers. In response, four of the top five batsmen in the Quins line-up contributed well. Jarrod Murgatroyd scored 28 runs, Chris Schulenburg accumulated 25, Clinton Abrahams managed 28 and Donovan Steele got 27. M Havenga was undefeated on 16 runs at number eight in the batting line-up. At 7pm with luminance severely diminished and 24,1 overs bowled, the opposition abandoned the match due to what they perceived as dangerous conditions. Quins were 162 runs for the loss of nine wickets – one strike away from winning the match – and they won this encounter by virtue of a superior run rate. Quins’ fourth team should be commended on their tenacity and braveness in being willing to continue in poor light.

The U13 team played a 30 over south stream youth league match at Chatsworth 217. ‘Quins scored 180 for the loss of nine wickets, with Tyler Jordan undefeated on 50 runs and Seth Adinall on 28 runs. Chatsworth United responded with 112 runs. Heath Manicom, Jan Fredericks and Deen Fredericks captured two wickets each. ‘Quins under thirteens won by 68 runs and have never been defeated this season.

On Sunday, 13 March, the first team takes on DHSOB/Rhythm at DHSOB in a 50 over stream one challenge league match at 9am. The fourth team take on Phoenix 6 in a 30 over division three match at Harlequins 1 in their final match of the season and the U13 team plays a 30 over south stream youth league match at Dubhri Road against Merebank U13s.

A six-a-side fun day will be held at Harlequins on Saturday, 19 March commencing at 7.30am. Anyone wishing to participate will be accommodated. The club’s annual awards event will be held on Friday, 8 April at the Combined Fynnland Sports Club from 6.30pm.

Call Ernest on 031-361-5047 for more information.