Girish Varadarajan stood tall as Alpha Cricket Club continued their unbeaten run in the GCA Division One League Qualifier B on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
With strong backing from sponsors Golden Dragon Casino-Osu, Tyretrendz, Binatone, and Indomie, Girish delivered a stellar bowling performance, claiming three wickets while conceding just 20 runs.
Alpha Cricket Club has shown remarkable energy and consistency throughout the league, securing five wins in five matches. Their latest triumph came against Champions United Cricket Club in Week 9 of the competition.
Match Summary
Played in the early hours of the day, Champions United won the toss and elected to bat. However, they soon faced relentless pressure from Alpha Cricket’s bowling attack.
The breakthrough came in the second over when Girish Varadarajan delivered his sixth ball from the University of Ghana, Legon end, dismissing Sandeep Kumar. David Nii Ashong Ankrah took a spectacular catch at deep backward point to complete the wicket.
David Ankrah then continued his impressive spell from the Achimota Zoo end, clean bowling Deepak Kumar on the first ball of the third over. This ushered in Dishu Kumar, but the momentum remained with Alpha Cricket.
Halim K. joined the wicket-takers’ list in the fourth over, producing a brilliant delivery that saw Syed Anees Hashmi caught out exceptionally by Michael Aboagye. By this point, Champions United were struggling at 12/2.
Although wickets did not fall in every over, David Ankrah’s pace and accuracy unsettled the batters, forcing them into defensive play. He bowled with such speed and precision, as if he had the grip of Tyretrendz, keeping the pressure on the opposition.
Rain Interruption and Match Conclusion
Girish cemented his Player of the Match performance by taking two more wickets before rain halted play at 17 overs. At the stoppage, Champions United stood at 78/6.
With the game affected by weather conditions, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method was applied, reducing Alpha Cricket’s target and setting up a five-over chase. Alpha Cricket comfortably secured victory by nine wickets, scoring 39/1.
Bharani Kumar, the three-time Player of the Match winner, continued his fine form, contributing 14 runs off 12 balls before he was caught at long-off by Deepak Raykangor from a Mohammed Firoj delivery in the fourth over. His partnership with Frank Baaleri (22* off 15) ensured Alpha Cricket’s dominance.
Bharani Kumar’s consistency has placed him at the top of the league’s bowling charts with 12 wickets from five innings. He also leads the MVP standings with 38.39 points, holding a nearly 10-point lead over second-placed Kofi Bagabena. Additionally, he tops the batting charts with 157 runs, boasting an impressive average of 78.50 and a strike rate of 113.77.
Alpha Cricket’s Unbeaten Streak Continues
Alpha Cricket Club remains at the top of Qualifier B with 10 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.554. Their unbeaten journey started with a 27-run win over MMG on December 15, 2024. They followed up with victories against Swami Indians (55 runs, January 12), GT CC (7 wickets, January 19), and Salt n Pepper (6 wickets, January 26).
Looking ahead, Alpha Cricket will return to the Achimota Twin Oval to face Hurricanes on February 16, 2025, before their final match against Devnik United on March 2. With continued support from their sponsors, Alpha Cricket is not only aiming to secure a top-four finish for Premier League qualification but also to complete the league stage unbeaten and finish as the undisputed leaders of Qualifier B.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
