Quins 6 season finale ends with 79 run victory

THREE of Umbilo Harlequins cricket teams were engaged in league match encounters on 11 and 12 March.

On 11 March, Quins’ sixth team played their final 30 over division five game of the current season against Simplex RHCSC from Reservoir Hills, at Lt King Park, Fynnland.

Conditions were sunny on a non-compacted wicket, with consequential slow ball velocity off the pitch surface. Opening batsmen Chase Garner on 45 and Jason Rouse managed 29 runs to form a 59 run partnership in just 10 overs. The remainder of the batting order contributed to Quins’ final tally of 200 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their full allocation of 30 overs. Noteworthy contributions were from Dylan Jenkins who accumulated 28 runs and Darryl Lavender who got 24 runs.

Simplex RHCSC 6 were never really in contention due to the loss of wickets in regular succession. They reached 121 runs all out after 26.5 overs. Best of the Quins bowling attack were right arm wrist spinner Dieter Liebenberg who captured four wickets for 22 runs in 35 deliveries, Gavin Hazell claimed two wickets in 30 deliveries and Dylan Jenkins who got two wickets for 27 runs in 36 balls.

Quins 6 won this match by 79 runs, which concludes the 2016-2017 season for a team which was expertly managed by Keith Baxter and well supported by members of Quins Cricket Club, who were keen to participate in league match cricket on Saturday afternoons.

After an unacceptably long break having concluded their 40 over format on 5 February, the Quins second team had a sterling performance in the first of their 20 over group matches against DHS Rhythm on Sunday, 12 March at Danville Park, Durban North.

Quins 2 accrued 147 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs through a 45 run contribution by opening batsman Sheldon Spindler, 25 runs by number three batsman Mark Kritzinger and 21 runs by fourth batsman, Theuns Jacobs.

DHS Rhythm capitulated in the 90th over through the endeavours of right arm orthodox slow bowler Saint John Piek, who captured five wickets for 17 runs in 24 deliveries and right arm seamer Theuns Jacobs took three wickets for six runs in three overs.

The greater Durban area was subject to substantial rain leading up to Friday morning, resulting in soggy surfaces of all unprotected wickets, causing surfaces not being compressed to the point of stability. The rationale of Durban and District Cricket Union’s sanctioning of league matches on non-compacted wicket surfaces is not understood as it invariably results in farcical standards of cricket very often endangering the safety of players. The general perception is that lawn can simply be cut and creases marked and that everything will be fine. How wrong that perception is, as every wicket surface ought to be securely compacted.

Quins’ fourth side played their final 30 over division two league match of the season against INK 4 Ntuzuma on a very poor and dangerous, unprepared wicket surface at Cato Manor 2. The captain’s assessment was that it was probably the worst pitch he ever played on. Nevertheless, Quins 4 batted first on a crumbling surface with inconsistent bounce and pace, scoring 119 runs for the loss on nine wickets in 30 overs. Traineach Owen was undefeated on 25 runs and Justin Coskey made 27 runs.

The opposition were dismissed for 91 runs in 25,5 overs with medium paced seamer Mark Len Ferna De la Mote taking three wickets for 10 runs in six consecutive overs including two maiden overs; right arm orthodox slow bowler Eric Cavanagh took two wickets for 24 runs in 5,5 overs and Webster Geekie took two wickets for 15 runs in five overs. Quins 4 won by 28 runs. This concludes a relatively successful season for the fourth team.

Adding to the woes of the cricketing fraternity is the highly irresponsible actions of a football club which occupies the abounding zone of the cricket field situated in the domain of Wentworth Park. The Durban and District Cricket Union holds a permit for summer utilisation of the field with the proprietor, which is Ethekwini Municipality Parks South. This permit extends from 1 October until 31 March of the next year, therefore no football is permitted on that park without the express permission from DDCU. On Friday, 10 March the football club took it upon themselves to mark the cricket field with lime for a football match, with a line extending across the pitch. In addition the field and wicket was saturated from rain the previous night. Despite pleading with the resident groundsman not to continue marking the fields, the match went ahead, causing football boot stud mark impressions on the wicket surface and a dangerous situation for junior and senior cricket players in matches scheduled for the next day. There is also evidence of purposeful acute red soil contamination through importation, on the bully soil surface.

Quins first second, fifth and U11 team have league matches scheduled for Sunday, 19 March.

The club’s annual awards event will be held at Harlequins Sports Club off Garcin Place on Friday, 17 March from 6.30pm. A triangular event will be held on Saturday, 1 April at Quins.