Four run loss a blow to Quins 6’s league hopes
The target of 143 was a difficult one due to the inconsistency of the wicket's performance which one supposes the home side are well acquainted with.
UMBILO Harlequins Cricket Club’s teams engaged in their fourth last round of league matches on the weekend of 4 and 5 March.
On Saturday, 4 March, Quins’ sixth team took on division five log leaders Simplex RHCSC 7 in a 30 over encounter at Siripat Road 2, Reservoir Hills.
Being second on the log, Quins required a win from this match to remain in a position to win this league. Simplex 7 batted first to score 140/10, with a player who arrived suspiciously late after the game had started and batted at nine scoring a quick 58.
Dieter Liebenberg was again in great form, taking 6/8 off six overs. Half the runs scored off him were in one shot in his last over. Special mention is made of George Morey who took the important wicket of the top scorer for no runs off three balls.
On the batting end, Quins were soon in trouble with both openers out with 10 runs on the board. The middle order of Gavin Hazell 33, Zane Gaze 26 and Ian Karg 16, gave Quins a chance, but there was still 19 needed when the ninth wicket fell. A few lusty blows from Darryl Lavender 10* and Russell Mackenzie were not enough and they finished 136 all out in 26.5 overs, losing by four runs.
Struggling to stave off possible relegation, Quins’ first side took on Simplex Reservoir Hills Cricket Club’s first side at Siripat Road 1 on Sunday in a 50 over stream one challenge league match at 9am. It was a hot, sunny day which was initially windless, but by late morning a blustery south westerly wind pushed through. The outfield was fast, the wicket dogged with real inconsistent bounce of the cricket ball, some of which struck helmets but most veering low to the deck – evidence of a wicket which has been overutilised through winter cricket and which receives insufficient attention in general, especially compaction.
Lanky fast bowler and newcomer to the team Tyron Pietersen was unsuccessful during his six overs of delivery, conceding 25 runs. Trevor Campbell took out the top four batsmen and a tail-ender for 31 runs in 47 deliveries. Mohammed Patel captured two wickets for 22 runs in six overs, identical bowling statistics to medium pacer Aziz Khan. Quins’ fielding efforts were commendable, as they took most of their catches and there was fine implementation of ground stops. Simplex RHCSC were dismissed for 142 runs in 37,5 overs.
The target of 143 was a difficult one due to the inconsistency of the wicket’s performance which one supposes the home side are well acquainted with. Quins players on the other hand are used to the superb character of the Harlequins wicket and from the onset, had difficulty in coping with. The correct batting technique required on such an erratic surface was to avoid all cross-batted strokes with any delivery on line with the wickets, by playing straight. Kalvin Venter however mustered up some superb strikes in his determined innings of 39 runs, being eventually bowled out by Sherwin. Trevor Campbell played a fine innings of 18 runs and Ryan Baronet had a compact innings of 18 runs without any real flurry of strokes, most commendably conducted in the adverse circumstances. Quins was dismissed for 103 runs, just 39 runs shy of a tie. In retrospect this was not a poor performance for a team on the mend and ever improving, thanks to the dedicated endeavours of coach and manager Mark Baronet, captain Ryan Baronet, wicket keeper Faisal Barakzai and public relations official Kalvin Venter and others.
The fifth team played a 30 over division three match against KwaDabeka at Wentworth Park on Saturday afternoon. The wicket also was inconsistent, velocity across the outfield surface was rapid and the field quite diminutive, by virtue of the choice of the home team. KwaDabeka was knocked over by the mixed seam and spin attack of Quins for 99 runs. Medium-paced, away swing bowler Theo Van Heerden captured three wickets for 26 runs in six overs. Jarrod Murgatroyd, Quenton Oosthuysen, and Rayven price claimed two wickets each. In response, Quins 5 only required three batsmen to acquire the 100 runs in short time. Jarrod Murgatroyd got 18 runs, Clinton Abrahams was undefeated with 54 runs which included a multitude of sixes and fours, while Quenton Oosthuyzen was not out on 23 which included some deft late cuts and leg glances and the odd straight drive. Quins 5 won by nine wickets.
The second, fourth and sixth teams have matches this weekend.
Coaching for U11s will be on Thursday from 5pm at the Harlequins nets. A practise match is being arranged for seniors on Saturday.
The club’s annual awards event will be on Friday, 17 March from 6.30pm at Harlequins Combined Sports Club.
A triangular tournament has been suggested for the first day of the next month at Harlequins.
Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for more club information.
