Week 11 of the Ghana Cricket Association’s New Year Invitational T20 league saw only one match at the Achimota Oval C on Sunday, December 4, 2022, as struggling Salt n’ Pepper couldn’t raise a team to play Punjab, in their group B encounter.
However, Karizma who were honoring a week 4 outstanding match against Ras Bingi as BGC could play Supreme due to the international assignment involving majority of the players had to bat first, since Ras Binghi won toss and elected to field first.
Karizma scored 161/10 in 19.3 overs, as Ernest Arthur pushed for glory in the bowling figures, with 4.0-0-30-3 and an economy rate of 7.5 for Ras Bingi.
Ras Bingi has never taken all out in the league and it was a good record for them although they lost. Karizma kept the wickets until after the 4th over, when Nurudeen Ibrahim bowled out Madhu Raman 13(14). Before Karizma crossed 10 overs, Charles Pobee Okine caught from behind a ball delivered from Haruna Addison to Preetham Ananda Acchan, with their score at 54/2 in 7.1 overs.
Ernest Arthur, started his exploits from the 11.1 over when he bowled out Anand Paramasivan.
Ras Bingi believed they can make amends, but for the wonderful bowling and exceptional fielding of Karizma which limited them to 72/10 in 17.3 overs.
Ganesh Sharma was adjudged Player of the match with bowling figures, 3.0-1-9-2, as Karizma won by 89 runs.
Rohit Makhija, captain tells TalksenseSports, they were happy, Ras Binghi chose to field first when they won toss.
“It was definitely an easy game for us but initially we started with the same completion, we didn’t think we will end it p so easily, but yes, indeed it was an easy win, I will say. We actually wanted to bat first, so when they won toss and chose to field, we were happy. Yes, few wickets went down quickly, but yes, we scored really well down the wickets, so yes, we were very happy.”
“Every game is a learning process in cricket, so we have learnt that we should not give too many extras when we are bowling. We have to be a little organized in fielding. We definitely aim at the top of the group, we have played 1 draw and 2 wins and we have 4 more games coming, so the target is to reach the top.” He added
Karizma, who shared points with MMG on week 1 has now leapfrogged the latter on top of group A with 5 points and an NRR advantage after 3 matches. Ras Bingi remain bottom with no point after 4 matches.
Ras Bingi captain, Nurudeen Ibrahim says, they lost due to many of their players being on injury and in school.
“Same situation for us, we don’t have enough equipment and good pitch to train on. We train in the sand but we don’t play cricket in the sand. When you bowl, the ball doesn’t come, so we are facing more problems in our team. The time we started the league, we always bat first and now we switch it and realized it was going on well, so we decided to do the same today.”
“Yes, we lost to a very good team but we didn’t see how good they were but because we had a young team. We have more of our players in School and some are on injury. So, we lost because we came with a relatively young team and not the good players we want. I know the young ones came to learn but we will train them, so they become better. Our fielding wasn’t good, and they had good bowlers, fielders and batters.” He told TalksenseSports.
Salt n’ Pepper were not able to make it this week, as Punjab pick the 2 points with ease in the afternoon schedule. Salt n’ Pepper had lost all their four matches in group B and remain bottom with no point.
Many kept asking what is actually wrong with the team, but captain Anand Ramakrishna who was around to inform organizers of their inability to play the match against Punjab spoke to TalksenseSports.
“Actually, we are short of players. The reason is most of our people are working in industries and other places and so they are not able to come on time and until last minute, we are to cancel the match because of lack of players. We have played most matches and it has been organized very well. It is true, we performed very well in the previous tournaments with remarkable progress but this tournament, there are a lot of issues, even we are short of players, people are traveling here and there, and in conclusion, we don’t have a consistent team to play this tournament and that is the main reason.”
“Adding to it, previously we used to play every week or at least every two weeks, but the short of ground is also a problem, as we don’t get the matches frequently, that is what I feel. We should bounce back, so next tournament we will try and give our best. That is the only thing I can say.”
Punjab are now 4 points behind leaders Don Bruce and 2 points behind CSK, lying 3rd.
Punjab had to play a friendly with Karizma, just to warm themselves up, as they were present at the Oval.
Here is Aqeel Israr Syed, who spoke on behalf of the captain of Punjab, after picking the 2 points without playing.
“It is not good feeling, because our players come from very far to play that match and it is not good that the team didn’t come for the match, that is why we are playing this practice match, just to keep shape for good cricket, so it is not good feeling but good at the end of the day because we got 2 points. Yes we highly believe that we would have still gotten the 2 points if we had played because our last match, we played good cricket and our boys did very well. We had come here for win, knowing winning and losing is part of the game but our focus is that we have to win.”
The league continues come Sunday, December 11, 2022 at Oval C. Champions United Cricket Club faces Swami Sports Club in a group B game in the morning before Hurricanes come up against Defenders in group A.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
