As the men are gradually being separated from the boys in the ongoing Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) New Year Invitational T20 league, BGC deepened the woes of Saltpond based Ras Bingi in a week 13 fixture while the national U-19 team saw their second victory against Swami Sports Club.
Beginning from group A, where Saltpond based Ras Bingi lost to BGC, the match played in the early hours of Sunday, December 18, 2022 at the Achimota Cricket Oval C, saw Ra s Bingi win toss and chose to bat.
They pushed for greatness to achieve their first ever victory, with great team work and an individual performance by Ernest Arthur *34(27), but it wasn’t enough to scare BGC in the second innings.
Ernest Arthur came on as the 6th batter on the 7.5 over and kept his wicket till the end of the game, after captain Nurudeen Ibrahim tried getting his hat trick boundary four but was caught at cover.
Ras Bingi scored 100/8 in 1 hour, 43 minutes, as Ernest Arthur scored 6 boundary fours and a 125.93.
With 44 extras, it took BGC 80 minutes to achieve their 101 runs target, having sacrificed 3 wickets, Abhishek Pandey 27(42), Ramesh Pawar 8(12) and Kapil Jangir 10(16) in 14.1 overs, and won the game by 7 wickets.
Kapil Jangir with bowling figures 4.0-0-16-2 in addition to his batting performance was adjudged the player of the match as the win lifts BGC to top of the table with 6 points and an NRR advantage, leaping Defenders to 2nd spot. Ras Bingi has gone 5 games without a win and are bottom with no point, as the likes of Supreme (4 points), MMG (5 points) and Karizma (6 points) have eyes on making it to the knock out stage.
Later in the afternoon, the national U-19 nearly gave away a vital 2 points as they slowed down in the second innings of their tie against Swami Sports Club, who won toss and chose to field.
A Lee Nyarko motivated innings, saw the U-19 score 135/9 while Paresh Shiyani (4.0-0-24-3) and Tirthank Shetty (4.0-0-27-3) inked their names on the bowling figures.
Swami Sports took over the crease and were determined to achieve the target but were demotivated by a Lee Nyarko brace in the 15th over, bowling out Navin Rabadiya 1(2) and a golden duck on Rahul Vekariya. Swami never gave up but with 83/6 after the 16th over, a combination of Lee Nyarko, Emmanuel Kemevor and Prince restricted Swami to wrap up at 117/7, while the young lads won by 18 runs.
With a run out to his credit, Lee Nyarko was named Player of the match after 4.0-0-24-2. Emmanuel Kemevor also took 3.0-0-20-2.
Swami Sports captain Nirav Pomal who was not left out in the bowling figures (4.0-0-23-2) says, they gave away extras.
“There were extra runs we gave them and they bowled really well and our players had it difficult to play with them but we played very well today and hopefully we will be better in the next match than this one. Our last match we won against Champions United which was our first win and gradually, my players are getting very confident. We didn’t under rate them because they are a good side their first three batters were very good but after them, we restricted them well and it was positive on our side.”
Here is Paul Ayoleyine, captain of the national U-19 Team
“We knew we would win because I believe in my team and I know we can beat any team but unfortunately the other match we lost against CSK, it is our fault. Swami would have caught up with us but we focused and back each other up on the field. We want to get far in this league, possibly 2nd or 1st.”
The win for the U-19 team kept the table of Group B same, with 2 points additional to the young chaps who lie 4th with 4 points after 3 matches. Swami is just below them with 2 points, while Don Bruce enjoys the summit with 8 points.
You would want to be at the Oval for the week 14 matches next year with much exciting fixtures.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
