Salt n’ Pepper Cricket Club finally lifted the coveted trophy of the Accra Asian Premier League (AAPL) after two previous final appearances, defeating Dev Tuskers in a thrilling grand finale at the Dzorwulu Astro Turf on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
The two-week modified cricket league featured 10 clubs battling through five innings each across 29 matches, delivering top-class entertainment and fierce competition from start to finish.
Road to the Knockouts
After the opening round on August 31, the league table tightened quickly, with Accra Titans, Salt n’ Pepper, Dev Tuskers, and The Game Changers securing spots in the final four. Despite finishing on equal points (6 each), DPS Plastic Tamil Pasanga and MP Warriors missed out on the knockout phase due to an inferior Net Run Rate (NRR).
Accra Titans topped the table with 8 points and an impressive +1.5 NRR, setting up a mouthwatering semifinal clash with Salt n’ Pepper.
Semifinal Drama
Salt n’ Pepper held their nerve to edge the Titans by 6 runs (41/3 vs 35/5) in the first semifinal, while Dev Tuskers outclassed The Game Changers by 4 wickets (49/3 vs 54/2) in an eliminator that saw star man Sukh Sangu power his side into the semis with blistering boundaries.
In the second semifinal, Dev Tuskers maintained their form, chasing 36/2 in 3.5 overs to beat Accra Titans (35/6 in 4.4 overs) and advance to the grand finale against Salt n’ Pepper.
The Grand Finale
Salt n’ Pepper approached the final with intent and aggression. Devender Sain led the charge, smashing six boundary sixes before falling in the third over. Junaid and Raja continued the momentum, guiding their side to 60/2.
Chasing a steep target, Dev Tuskers pinned their hopes on Sukh Sangu, but his dismissal after a single six turned the tide. Salt n’ Pepper’s disciplined bowling restricted Dev Tuskers to 30/4, sealing a 30-run victory and their first-ever AAPL title.
Top Performers & Awards
Player of the match for all 29 matches, received goodies from sponsors, while Devender Sain received more juicy stuff from being the best batter with 103 runs from 7 innings. Vishal Barrot of Accra Titans was the best fielder. He had 7 catches and 7 dismissals, while his teammate Halim Khan was the best bowler, taking 16 wickets with an economy rate of 4.95. Halim topped it up with the MVP of the AAPL, gathering 24.63 points.
All Players of the Match across 29 games received prizes from sponsors, led by Kodak Paint, with goodies presented to the top performers of the season.
Final League Standings
Other teams that participated include; 7th place Gujurat Tridents with 4 points, 8th place Maratha Warriors with 4 points, 9th place Sindhi Super Kings with 2 points, and Rajasthan Rebels at the bottom with 2 points too.
As anticipation builds for Season 4, organizers have hinted at an even bigger and more competitive edition, promising exciting auctions and fierce rivalries when the AAPL returns.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
