Inexperience costs Ilembe as Quins clinches cricket victory
This match was a real humdinger.
ALMOST the full component of Umbilo Harlequins’ six senior cricket teams played league matches over the weekend. Members of the challenge league team who were desperate to clinch a victory against a composite side called Ilembe, comprising 10 clubs to the north of Durban, did their utmost to secure the wicket against impending showers and high velocity winds on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
They were subject to a sensational match. As a consequence of the time consumed due to contingency measures applied, play in this scheduled 50 over match was delayed until 1pm, which led to a reduction in the overs to 27 per side. Quins batted first with most of the top order making minor contributions to the total. However, lower middle order batsman Kevin Kettle added significant impetus, through pulling two deliveries to the boundary and one-way over the square leg boundary, and some deft sweeping a few balls to top-score for Quins with 30 runs. Quins scored a total of 123 runs in 26,2 of the 27 overs.
Ilembe’s top four batsmen seemed to have this match secured for them, having taken their total to 91 runs for the loss of three wickets in the 18th over. They needed just 33 runs in 11 overs to be victorious. A dynamic and penetrative second spell by medium pace off-cut bowler Mohamed Patel removed four batsmen for 27 runs off a total of six overs and Kevin Kettle’s five overs of pace bowling conceded 18 runs, capturing two wickets to keep Quins’ hopes alive, albeit rather slimly at that juncture.
The two teams’ scores were tied with eight deliveries remaining, with Ilembe firm favouries to win this important encounter as they had two wickets remaining. However jittery inexperience resulted in the last two Ilembe batsmen being sensationally run out with four deliveries remaining. This match was a real humdinger despite Ilembe having had the initiative for most of the match, the result of which was a tie.
The second side took on Chatsworth United 2 in a match which was reduced from 40 to 23 overs due to a damp wicket. Webster Geekie and Trevor Campbell captured two wickets each. United scored 133 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 23 overs. Opening batsman Sheldon Spindler continued with his rich vein of form, being undefeated with 62 runs to take Quins 2 to victory by four wickets with 20 deliveries remaining.
The third team took on DHS/Rhythm 3 in a 30-over division one match. Quins 3 batted first with Corbin Stubs being not out with 51 runs, Tyler Jordan hitting 33 runs and Warren Torguis getting 22 runs to take Quins 3 through to 184 runs, losing six wickets in their innings. Medium paced right arm seam bowler Tim Hodgkinson took four wickets for 10 runs in six overs and the same style bowler, Tyler Jordan captured two for 10 runs in five overs to help dismiss the opposition for 120 runs short of their total in the 25th over.
The fourth side challenged Clares 3 in a division two encounter at Lt King Park in Fynnland on Sunday. Quins scored 169 runs through the endeavours of Adeesh 52, Asheel 39 and Justin 30 runs. Quins’ bowling attack was unable to dismiss Clares 3, allowing the opposition to surpass their total by scoring 170 for seven wickets in 23 overs. Adeesh claimed three wickets for 16 runs in 5,2 overs and Shaveer captured two wickets for 21 runs in two overs. The fifth team played Merebank 3 in a 30 over division four match on a non-compacted wicket surface at Wentworth Park. Quins’ opening batsman Jonathan top-scored with 41 runs, number four batter Clinton Abrahams got 31 runs and Donavan scored 22 runs. Quins 5 tallied 173 runs for nine wickets in 39 overs.
Merebank 3 was dismissed on 101 runs. Franco, Rayven Price and JP van Wyk captured two wickets each. Quins 5 won by 72 runs.
Unfortunately both junior team’s oppositions scratched their fixtures, conceding log points to Quins. This weekend, the first, second, sixth and U11 teams have home league matches at Harlequins and Lt King Park.
Coaching sessions for juniors will be on Thursday from 4.30pm and practises for seniors will be on Fridays at the Harlequins cricket nets. The annual awards will follow a fun day event which will take place at the Harlequins Cricket Club on Saturday, 7 April.
Call Ernest on 031-467-3270 for more club information.
