C-T M-J-I reporting from what's left of Riley Park

The fragile balloon of Royals' 2014 start got well & truly popped by the defending league champs Sunshine Friday evening. Unable to get the ball away much through the increasingly healthy Riley outfield, Royals were held to 90-7 by some accurate Shiners bowling.

A classic Calgary lbw- ball pitching well outside leg- shot out hard-working opener Robin Sekhon, but five more were cleaned up by Vijay's yorkers and Asit's relentless length, with George Williams, still not out in 2014, left out of balls if not partners.

Ex-Belgian U-19 Ajaypal Cheema fired for the first time, with a well-paced 31 n.o. that included 4 well-timed, if necessarily airy, boundaries.

The Sunshine chase, led by Rajesh 31 n.o and Afsar 20 n.o, was aided by a ragged display from aging 'keeper/Captain Bone-zo Pasternak, who managed to drop an easy skier, miss a stumping and trap a get-able edge off Mitchell Johnson. To top it off, one trickled through his porous defences and onto an unsuspecting helmet for 5 penalty runs.

Getting shot of this cricketing anachronism has to be a leading priority for the Glenmore brain-trust.

Meanwhile, the remainder of Royals fielding and the bowling continues to show energy and promise.

And while 90 was a low total even for Riley park, Royals are yet to be bowled out this season. Chunkier scores must surely be in the offing.