The Ghana Cricket Association Division 1 league bounces back with week 6 fixtures for both Qualifier A and B at the Achimota Cricket twin Oval on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
The league which started on December 1, 2024, went on a 1 week break on January 5, to allow the Champions Trophy.
3rd place Defenders CC bounces back to seek another victory against Evolve CC in the early hours on Sunday. Evolve, having lost to leaders Rana Motors and CSK will seek to clinch their 2nd win and better their chances of making it to the Premier.
Out of 3 matches, Evolve has won just 1; a 5 wickets triumph against BGC in week 3. They lie 4th on the Qualifier A table, 2 points behind Defenders, who have secured 2 wins from 3 matches; beating CSK by 9 runs and Bangle Tigers by 4 wickets.
Defenders, with players like Daniel Anefi, who lies 2nd in the bowling chat with 7 wickets, 1 behind BGC’s Ali Shah will look to leapfrog the latter as they play Evolve.
Qualifier A will witness another tough tie, as Carel Super Kings (CSK) comes up against leaders Rana Motors in the afternoon. CSK, with the likes of Arumugam Venkatesh, Sam Merbin and captain Selvaraj Chockalingam are poised to clinch their 2nd victory, having secured a win out of 2 matches.
CSK will seek to break the unbeaten run of Rana Motors and the unstoppable Richmond Baaleri, who leads the batting chat with 184.
In Qualifier B, Alpha Cricket Club, having played just 1 match, a 27 runs victory against MMG on December 15, will host Swami Indians in the morning. Alpha are 4th with 2 points, 4 points away from leaders Salt n Pepper.
Swami Indians are yet to taste victory, having lost against Hurricanes in week 2 and against GT Cricket Club in week 4. They currently lie bottom with -4.4 NRR.
Hurricanes themselves, 6th with 2 points, will also lock horns with GT CC in the afternoon. GT has also lost 1 in their two matches played; a 6 wickets loss to Devnik in week 2.
The race for qualification to the Premier League is getting interesting as the weeks go by. So far, Rana Motors and Salt n Pepper, are proving themselves in both Groups, while Alpha CC, the only other team that is yet to lose a match.
Saltpond based Ras Binghi remains the only side in Qualifier A yet to win a match, whereas Champions United and Swami Indians in Qualifier B are winless.
The Achimota Cricket Oval is the place to be this Sunday, from 9am, for these epic duels.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
