It was a soggy end to the season for the Border semi-professional cricket team as their final three days of cricket for the 2015-16 season was washed out at Buffalo Park over the past weekend.
The last two days of their Sunfoil three-day match and then the subsequent one-day match, both against KwaZulu-Natal Coastal, ended up not being played as persistent rain over Friday and Saturday meant no play was possible and then despite the sun appearing on Sunday, the field was too wet and would not have been ready to play the one-day match.
“We only managed to pick up three points from the game because of the weather and that we could only play on day one, so the guys are disappointed with how the season finished,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“Despite the weather causing two of our last three games to be shortened I think we ended the season very well.
“We played very good cricket against the two KZN teams and we feel that we have moved in the right direction in the latter part of the season.” This means Border have officially finished the season in the lower sections of the three-day and one-day competitions and will have to settle for a season without silverware after they won the one-day cup last season.
On the three-day front Border are in danger of ending the season on the bottom of Pool A as the only team below them, Northern Cape, are within five points and still have a match to play in the competition.
On the one-day front Border will finish second from bottom of Pool A as despite KZN Coastal, who sit below them, still having a game left, they will be not be able to gain enough points to pass them even if they win their final game.
On the T20 front Border fared a bit better as they ended the season in mid-table having won two and lost two of their four games.
“To be quite honest we are pretty disappointed with how our season turned out,” admitted Plaatjes.
“We knew it was going to be tough because we lost a few senior players and had to blood a number of youngsters over the season and we are in a rebuilding phase.
“But despite the results not going our way more often than not the fact that the youngsters adapted to the team quite quickly was definitely a positive we can take out.”
Although the team did not perform well, Border still had players who were outstanding.
Stand-in captain Martin Walters ended the season as their top batsman in the longer format and one of the top in the shorter format, while Phaphama Fojela was Border's top bowler overall.
“Martin Walters was superb on and off the field, he batted extremely well and did a very good job in terms of captaining and bringing the side together, and then Fojela was superb in all three formats, he was our go-to guy whenever we needed a wicket and he continually produced,” said Plaatjes.
Border will now look to enjoy the break over the off-season before getting ready to make their assault on the new season later this year.
“If you look at the way we played in our final few games we wish that the season was a bit longer,” claimed Plaatjes.
“But I think that next year we can fully focus on winning one of the trophies and I believe the team will be good enough to do so,” the coach said.
Rain gods have spiteful say in Border’s final push
The last two days of their Sunfoil three-day match and then the subsequent one-day match, both against KwaZulu-Natal Coastal, ended up not being played as persistent rain over Friday and Saturday meant no play was possible and then despite the sun appearing on Sunday, the field was too wet and would not have been ready to play the one-day match.
“We only managed to pick up three points from the game because of the weather and that we could only play on day one, so the guys are disappointed with how the season finished,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“Despite the weather causing two of our last three games to be shortened I think we ended the season very well.
“We played very good cricket against the two KZN teams and we feel that we have moved in the right direction in the latter part of the season.” This means Border have officially finished the season in the lower sections of the three-day and one-day competitions and will have to settle for a season without silverware after they won the one-day cup last season.
On the three-day front Border are in danger of ending the season on the bottom of Pool A as the only team below them, Northern Cape, are within five points and still have a match to play in the competition.
On the one-day front Border will finish second from bottom of Pool A as despite KZN Coastal, who sit below them, still having a game left, they will be not be able to gain enough points to pass them even if they win their final game.
On the T20 front Border fared a bit better as they ended the season in mid-table having won two and lost two of their four games.
“To be quite honest we are pretty disappointed with how our season turned out,” admitted Plaatjes.
“We knew it was going to be tough because we lost a few senior players and had to blood a number of youngsters over the season and we are in a rebuilding phase.
“But despite the results not going our way more often than not the fact that the youngsters adapted to the team quite quickly was definitely a positive we can take out.”
Although the team did not perform well, Border still had players who were outstanding.
Stand-in captain Martin Walters ended the season as their top batsman in the longer format and one of the top in the shorter format, while Phaphama Fojela was Border's top bowler overall.
“Martin Walters was superb on and off the field, he batted extremely well and did a very good job in terms of captaining and bringing the side together, and then Fojela was superb in all three formats, he was our go-to guy whenever we needed a wicket and he continually produced,” said Plaatjes.
Border will now look to enjoy the break over the off-season before getting ready to make their assault on the new season later this year.
“If you look at the way we played in our final few games we wish that the season was a bit longer,” claimed Plaatjes.
“But I think that next year we can fully focus on winning one of the trophies and I believe the team will be good enough to do so,” the coach said.
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