The Fly Dreams Travels Gold Coast Championship Season 2 heated up over the weekend, as teams battled for places in the knockout stage at the Accra Academy Astro Turf.
While the Ladies Super Knockout matches stole the spotlight on Sunday, May 11, the men’s division also delivered fierce group-stage drama. One of the standout results came from Lele Challengers, who booked a spot in the final eight with a commanding win over The Game Changers in Group B.
Lele Challengers, who had earlier lost to Defenders by 7 wickets (28/5 & 29/1 in 2 overs) and Gujarat Tridents by 5 wickets (41/3 & 42/3 in 4 overs), went on a rampage in their final group match, posting 74/4 and restricting The Game Changers to 36/3 to claim a 38-run win.
Gujarat Tridents topped Group B with 6 points, winning all three games. Lele Challengers narrowly advanced ahead of Defenders on net run rate (NRR), with all three teams locked on 2 points after beating each other.
The championship boasts a strong sponsorship lineup, with Heatz and Jaimai Communications as Platinum sponsors; Salt n’ Pepper Restaurant as Food Sponsor; and JK Paper, Dunamis Shipping & Logistics, Amic Medicare, and Indobev Global Ltd as Golden sponsors.
In Group C, DPS Plastic Tamil Pasanga proved dominant, finishing with 6 points. They recorded emphatic victories over Platinum (by 8 wickets: 12/7 & 18/0 in 1 over), Invincible Eleven (by 45 runs: 56/2 & 11/8), and JK Cricket Club (by 31 runs: 51/3 & 20/4). JK Cricket Club joined them in the quarterfinals with 4 points, earned from earlier wins over Invincible Eleven and Platinum.
Accra Titans made a statement in Group D, sweeping all three matches with authority to top the group with 6 points and a +4.499 NRR. They began with an 8-wicket win over Panjab Warriors (24/8 & 25/0 in 1.4 overs), followed by a 5-wicket win over Swami Sports Club (43/4 & 45/2 in 4.5 overs), and wrapped it up with a 24-run victory against Wasabi 9 (63/1 & 39/3).
Panjab Warriors edged out the rest to secure the second qualifying spot, defeating Wasabi 9 by 24 runs (51/2 & 27/5).
From Group A, Royal Stars Tema and Champions United progressed, completing the full list of eight quarterfinalists:
Royal Stars Tema, Champions United, Gujarat Tridents, Lele Challengers, DPS Plastic Tamil Pasanga, JK Cricket Club, Accra Titans and Panjab Warriors.
Co-sponsors of the Gold Coast Championship include Trendz Unisex Salon, Park & Shop, Daily Food, Boss Baker, Desi Mart-Tema, Verna Mineral Water, SML, and Wasabi.
With all but one team (Lele Challengers) winning multiple group games, the quarterfinals scheduled for Sunday, May 18, 2025, promise to deliver high-stakes, thrilling cricket action.
Ladies Super Knockout Sparks Cheers
The cherry on top of Day Two was the thrilling Women’s Super Knockout Championship.
Gima Warriors electrified the crowd in the first match, comfortably defeating MMG Virangana. MMG posted 29/4 in the first innings, but Gima chased the target with ease, scoring 33 without loss in just 2.5 overs to win by 8 wickets.
In the second clash, Gujarat Tridents Ladies edged Fighters by 8 runs in a tense, last-over thriller. Gujarat had set a target of 42/1. Despite late pressure from Fighters, they were restricted to just 34/1, thanks to disciplined bowling and dot balls in the final over — sealing Gujarat’s place in the final.
The grand final of the Ladies Championship is set for Sunday, May 18, 2025, and promises to be a showpiece of skill, determination, and crowd-pulling excitement — with the giant trophy and other goodies up for grabs.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
