Evolve Paint Cricket Club needed blue to add to their yellow jersey to make green for Supreme Cricket Club in their ‘91 runs’ victory at the Achimota Oval B on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
It was a Group A qualifier encounter, that saw Supreme dare the paint makers, after the former won toss and chose to field.
The production of the paint for Evolve, started with captain Navalekar Anil sacrificing himself to allow his boys work as he was caught out by Philip Yevugah at gulley from Thomas Bakiweyem delivery on the 0.2 over.
A wonderful partnership between opener Mark Bawa 43(22) and Ashok Behera was the first production and a quick response to the wicket was a first boundary 4 for Ashok on the 0.4 over. Mark Bawa continued with a boundary brace on Awudu Dramani in the 2 over to set the tone, for an exciting first innings.
By end of Power Play, Evolve paint was 42/1 and their game was just beginning. Mark and Ashok’s partnership produced 69 runs before Mark was bowled out by Phil De Burgh on the 8.5 over.
Another era of production begun with Julius Mensah 23(20), as he scored the first boundary 6 on the 12.2 over, motivating Ashok to repeat another six on the 12.5, all given away by Nuel Anefi.
Julius exited the crease on the 14.4 over, with a run out by Philip Yevugah; a late cut at 4th slip. His partnership with Ashok produced 46 runs.
The final era for Evolve, was Ashok and Sanjay Pokhriyal 29*(20), whose partnership also produced 41 runs, with 4 boundaries and plus 30 extras.
Evolve thus scored 187/3 in the first innings and reserved more energy for the limitation.
The second innings was not a rush for fall of wickets for Evolve but a carefully crafted plan to allow Supreme commit and put the blue paint on themselves, to make their jersey the type of green they want and a touch of yellow.
The 20 overs were exhausted with 7 wickets falling for Supreme. Philip Yevugah fell through the delivery of Mr Karan Evolve on the 3.1 over. Supreme were now suppressed by Evolve and could not breath, managing 21/1 after power play.
Each of the 7 players of Evolve that bowl, got a wicket each, except Sanjay, while Supreme wrapped up with 96/7 and Charles Ohene being the top scorer with 30 (46).
Ashok’s over half a century score; 62*(57) won him the Player of the match Accolade as he climbs to 4th on the batting chat with 114 runs from 5 innings. His team mate, Mark Bawa lies 2nd with 131 runs from 5 innings, behind Richmond Baaleri.
Evolve are now 3rd with 6 points after 5 matches and an NRR less and a match less from that of leaders BGC and Rana Motors.
Supreme Cricket Club falls deep, just above bottom side Ras Bhingi with 2 points from 3 matches and -2.3 NRR.
The Ghana Cricket Association Division One league is getting captivating as the weeks go by and one can not afford to miss actions for week 8 on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey