Komani
Royals lapse of consistency has made the race for the top spot in the Border
Cricket Promotional League interesting for fans following the league and a bit
challenging for them as the season is about to end.
The
three teams fighting for the top spot are Hams Cricket Club (East London), Masakhane Cricket Club (Mdantsane)
and Royals.
Royals
have been the log leaders throughout the season until a month ago when their
game against Kwelerha Cricket Club at Bunkers Hill did not take place and
Border came to a decision to not allocate points to either teams as both teams
failed to pitch.
As
if that was not enough, Royals suffered a shocker of a loss against Masakhane
Cricket Club.
On
February 19, Masakhane travelled to Komani to play against Royals and the game
between the two teams was reduced to a 34 over game because of a late start due
to wet fields after the floods damaged many structures and fields in Komani.
Masakhane
won the toss and sent Royals in to bat and the home side succumbed to the
pressure applied by Masakhane and pitch conditions and were restricted for a
very low 88 runs all out.
Masakhane
also had a hard time but managed the conditions better than the home side.
Masakhane
won that game by three wickets, handing Royals their first and only loss of the
season to date.
A
week later, on February 26, Royals had to remind the other league contenders
that they are not out of the race yet as they thrashed Black Lions with a nine
wicket demolition.
Royals
won the toss and elected to bowl first. It took Royals bowling attack only 13.1
overs to bowl Black Lions out for 31 runs with Reinhardt Stride (seven overs, two,
14 runs and four wickets) and Mkululi Takane (1.1 overs, one maiden, zero runs
and four wickets) as chief destroyers with the ball.
Royals
chased the total in 5.3 overs as they blew Black Lions away in all spheres of
the game.
Royals
are playing their last game of the season against the East London based Super
Eagles Cricket team on Sunday, March 5. The game will be played at Queens
College fields on the TW Higgs Field.
