It was a bad time for Ghana’s senior women’s team as they lost their third straight match at the ongoing NCF Women’s T20I on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 against debutants Cameroon.
With 2 changes to the starting lineup, Ghana lost toss for the first time as their opponents elected to bat first.
Ghana started well with good bowling from captain Rhyda Ofori and Komalpreet who got 2 wickets in the first 4 overs, but Cameroon took advantage of the poor fielding of Ghana and kept increasing the expected total score. However, spinners Cynthia Konadu (4.0-1-3-0) and Rashidatu Salia (4.0-0-19-3) limited their opponents, with some decent bowling.
Cameroon scored 95/9 and knew they had work to do to seal their first victory.
Ghana started this time with Cynthia Konadu and Ellen Otu Asante, but Ellen was bowled out just when she was about heating up for a deal on the stroke of the first over. An lbw also saw the dismissal of Cynthia on the 2.1 over and that paved way for Rozabel, who was also dismissed before she could settle on the 4.5 and Ghana were 22/3 after 5 overs.
Rashidatu Salia and Komalpreet were to do the magic for Ghana with their partnership but it was cut short with a miscommunicated run out of Rashidatu.
Komalpreet stayed on to keep hopes alive for Ghana, with 53/7 after 10 overs and but with two more fall of wickets, Ghana managed 56/9 in 12.2 overs, while Cameroon won by 39 runs, as Christiana Nyameke who got hurt in the first innings, could not recover to bat.
Cameroon won by 39 runs and Madeleine Laura Nseke was adjudged player of the match, with her 22(40) and 4.0-0-14-3.
Rhyda Ofori Amanfo, captain of Ghana’s team in a post-match interview was full of miraculous words.
“The issue is complicated but the tournament is not yet over. We are still in the tournament and we have the chance to do better than today. The dream of playing the final is still possible because there are other matches for the other teams to play, whatever the outcome is we can still make it.”
Ghana, having lost to Rwanda on Monday and Sierra Leone yesterday, have host and rivals Nigeria to play on Friday, March 31, March 31, at 13:50 GMT (12:50 GH Time).
It was the first time Cameroon beat Ghana at the Women’s International stage, as Ghana needs a convincing win against Nigeria, to fight for a place in the tournament.
Ghana lie bottom with no point, as Rwanda bounce back to the summit of the table with 4 points after a win against Sierra Leone earlier in the day. Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Cameroon follow in that order with 4 points, and 2 points each.
Price Water House Coopers (PwC), Underground Mining Alliance, Bel Aqua producers of ALKAPLUS mineral water and Techno Mobile have been of great support to the Ghana cricket Association for this tournament.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
