Robin Singh Backs Royal Desert Champions to Bounce Back After Slow Start

Royal Desert Champions have lost their first three games of the Abu Dhabi T10 on the trot, but Team Director Robin Singh believes the side can turn things around. With the opening week behind them, he says the focus now is on getting the batting going and building momentum for the rest of the league stage.

Royal Desert Champions opened their campaign against Emirates Eagles on 7 November and went down by 16 runs. Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 41 off 16 and Kyle Mayers’ 39 off 19 took the Eagles to 125/2, with Chris Jordan removing Mayers with a caught and bowled. In reply, Sherfane Rutherford struck 33 off 12 balls and Jordan added 27 off 17, but RDC finished on 109/7, with Trent Boult (2/14) named Player of the Match.

The next evening against Arabian Aces, Phil Salt led the way with 55 off 26 balls, including six fours and two sixes. Janith Liyanage chipped in with 20, captain Nicholas Pooran made a brisk 17 off 8, and Jordan finished unbeaten on 14 as RDC posted 112/6. Paul Walter’s unbeaten 62 off 26 anchored the chase, and Luke Wood picked up the only wicket, with Jordan taking the catch to dismiss Tom Kohler-Cadmore for 42. The Aces got home by 9 wickets in 9 overs.

On 9 November, United Tigers won the toss and chose to field, and RDC were held to 81/9, with Muhammad Waseem top scoring on 24 and Naseem Shah hitting an unbeaten 18 down the order. Abbas Afridi’s 3/10 and an unbeaten 45 off 21 from Tigers captain Fakhar Zaman sealed a 9 wicket win with 18 balls to spare.

“We need to get a start,” said Robin Singh. “Our bowlers have been under pressure because we haven’t been posting big totals. In this format you can still afford to play a few balls and get your eye in. It’s good that we have a break now, because we have to reassess. This is one of those formats where you win one game, two games, and you’re on a roll. But first we have to get ourselves into that situation.” RDC are back in action against UAE Bulls on Wednesday, 11 November at 5:45 PM GST.