German play-off picture becomes clearer

Five of the six German regional cricket leagues have now been finalised with the play-offs to decide the DCB German Club finalists starting soon.

Lions Karlsruhe, who won the Baden-Würtemberg League and Munich International CC, winners of the South League, will be joined by the winners of the West League, which is still to be decided between Olympia Frankfurt and Frankfurt CC.

Meanwhile, another set of play-off matches will be contested between Berlin CC, champions of Berlin, Dusseldorf Blackcaps, winners of the North Rhine Westphalia Cricket Union League, and Tennis, Hockey & Cricket Club (THCC) Rot-Gelb of Hamburg, winners of the North League.

The victors in each of these play-offs will then meet on Sunday September 12 to find the overall German club champion for 2010.

Lions Karlsruhe have already gone through one play-off system to get this far as the Baden-Würtemberg League was decided in that manner ? a two-wicket victory over Kaiserslautern University proving crucial.

Karlsruhe, THCC and Dusseldorf Blackcaps are all set to compete in the national play-offs for the first time.

Berlin CC and Munich International CC (MIC) have both reached this stage for the second time in their history on the back of successful regional campaigns.

MIC's success is particularly impressive as they needed to see off two-times German champions Pak Orient to get this far.