Sensational young lad, Richmond Baaleri won his 3rd straight player of the match accolade as Rana Motors stifled Defenders in a tight nerve-racking encounter at the Achimota Cricket Oval A on Sunday, December 29, 2024.
Baaleri cruised to another inspiring batting performance, which saw him ‘dropped 3 times as Rana Motors beat Defenders by 38 runs. The youngster scored 8 boundary 4’s and 2 boundary 6’s in his 73 (47) as Daniel Anefi bowled him out on the 16.3 over, while Rana Motors stood at 171/6.
He was the big wicket that Defenders sort and getting him finally gave them a huge relief, as Rana Motors were all out for 175 in 19.1 overs.
It was a motivation as well for Daniel Anefi (4.0-0-22-3), who dropped Baaleri once, faced him 7 times and gave away 9 runs. Anefi got 2 more wickets in his final over (a hat trick), after dismissing Baaleri, as their battle started from the 1st ball.
Yahaya Adamu (4.0-0-41-3) contributed his quota to getting Rana Motors all out in the first innings, after they won toss.
Defenders were on a good path for victory, with 123/6 in 15 overs and with a requirement of 53 runs to win from 30 balls, while Anefie had 40(17).
But as Cricket may have it, things turned around for Rana Motors in the 16th over, when Richmond Baaleri dismissed his nemesis Daniel Anefi on the 15.2 over, after he gave away a boundary 4 on the 15.1 over.
As fans watch the two battle in both innings with bragging rights of who gets the better of who, Baaleri kept his magical spin bowling until Anefi walked to the crease as the 7th batter after Shajahan Razak had bowled out Francis Bakiweyem on the 9.4 overs, while Defenders stood at 70/5.
Anefi reached the boundary 3 times in the 11th over, with 2 six and a four, boosting the chances of his side for victory.
Defenders therefore managed 137/9 as eventual player of the match, Richmond Baaleri (4.0-0-14-2) earned a brace, dismissing Yahaya Adamu on the 15.3 over.
Baaleri now has 184 runs from 3 innings and an average of 92.00 and a strike rate of 130.50 in the batting leaderboard and followed by Daniel Anefi, with 89 runs from 3 innings. He also has a total of 5 wickets and among the top 10 wickets takers.
Ran Motors comfortably sit top of the Qualifier A table with 6 points, 2 away from BGC and Defenders Cricket Club.
A one weekend break comes up next Sunday, with full action resuming on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
