Plaatjes gives thumbs up for Border opener
THE fully fit Border semi-professional cricket team is geared up and ready to get their 2016-17 cricket season under way as they welcome North West to East London for their Sunfoil 3-day Cup and CSA Provincial one-day competition matches at Buffalo Park later this week.
The Sunfoil match kicks off on Thursday until Saturday, with the one-day game following on Sunday.
“We have no injury concerns. Everyone is looking good and raring to go,” said Border coach Frank Plaatjes.
“It is always nice to start the season with a fresh and fit squad and the guys are in a good place and excited for the match.”
Border were last in action over a month ago when they hosted the second leg of the Africa T20 competition, with the weekend washed out after the first day’s play.
This saw Border disappointingly eliminated by lucky draw, despite the fact that they topped the log after the two matches on the opening day.
They will now look to get a good start to the longer format against North West this week.
“We want to rectify things after the disappointment of the Africa Cup T20 and a good start to the season will be the perfect way to get over that,” said Plaatjes.
A few Warriors regulars will be available for Border this weekend, which will give them a boost.
“We have a few Warriors players available in Aya Gqamane, Christiaan Jonker and Thandolwethu Mnyaka, which is always welcomed,” said Plaatjes.
The team will, however, need their regulars to fire if they want to gain a positive result, and they will once again be led by Martin Walters, who deputised last season in the absence of Jerry Nqolo, who found himself in the Warriors mix over the whole season.
Walters seemed to thrive under the captaincy and enjoyed a sparkling season that saw him crowned as the Border player of the season and batsman of the season at the annual end of season awards.
North West will be a very tough test first up for Border, and they have already played their first three-day and one-day matches of the season, drawing with KwaZulu-Natal in the longer format, before thumping them in the limited-overs match to get off to a decent start.
“North West is a very tricky match first up. They have been brilliant the past two seasons, not losing a single three-day game, and they will want to keep that record in check,” said Plaatjes.
“But the team is confident. We know what we are capable of and we know we can get a positive result out of the match. We just have to make sure that we fire on all three fronts.”
The Border v North West Sunfoil Cup match starts on Thursday morning from 9am at Buffalo Park and will conclude by Saturday afternoon, with the oneday match then beginning at 9.30am on Sunday morning.