It looked like Salt n Pepper brought pepper spray to the Achimota Cricket Oval B in their grueling week 5 encounter against Devnik United on Sunday afternoon, December 29, 2024.
Salt n Pepper halted the 3-matches winning streak of Devnik to remain unbeaten in 3 matches, as their 83 runs victory took them tops with 6 points and +3.08 NRR.
A careful but consistent first innings, saw Salt n Pepper putting on the board 152/9, while Devnik enjoyed the fall of wickets with several catches. The likes of Rohit Makhija (4.0-0-26-3), Kushal Shah (4,0-0-40-2) and Rohit Sukhija (4.-0-11-2), got the better of their opponents in the crease with fun.
Little did Devnik know, that they will be served with same meal in the second innings, but this time pepperish deliveries to blind their eyes from seeing well, the balls.
With no batter scoring even 20 runs, the wickets for Devnik started falling from the 2.5 over, where Nikunj Patel tried going big from Elisha Frimpong’s delivery but was caught by Thomas Cyriac.
Having achieved 27/1 at the end of the power play, Devnik had 36/1 by the end of the 6th over before the party began. From Mukesh Mohan, to Ayushmaah and caught by Bernard Addo on the 6.5 over.,,
Mukesh got his 3rd wicket (4.0-0-12-3) on captain Makhija via LBW on the 8.6 over, after putting pepper in the eyes of Suraj Poojary to be caught by David Ateak on the 8.3 overs.
There came the catch of the match, a beautifully crafted acrobatic catch by Emmanuel Kemevor on Preetham Achan via Lee Nyarko’s delivery on the 9.1 over.
Lee, who was adjudged the Player of the match, ensured the party continued, as he bowled out Godfred Bakiweyem on the 11.5 over and completed a brace, with a golden duck on Rohit Sukhija, keeping Devnik at 60/7 by the 12th over.
Kofi Bagabena got two more in the next over, with Lee Nyarko getting a catch on Thilak Shetty. The final wicket was taken by David Ateak, whose delivery got Sunny in trouble, as the ball was towards Bagabena, a sure catcher to wrap things up at 15.1 overs, while Devnik managed 69/10.
Lee stood out with batting performance 46(27) and bowling figures 3.0-0-15-3. He lies fourth on the bowling chat with 7 wickets from 3 innings. Team mate Bagabena sits top with 10 wickets, while Devnik’s Rohit Sukhija is 3rd with 8 wickets.
Devnik drops to 2nd with 6 points and +0.3 NRR.
Gradually, the men are being separated from the boys, as the qualification to the Premier league looks certain for some teams and shaky for others.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
