Held at the Achimota Cricket Ovals, with 360 field, the Royals Cup saw a great display of cricket from both Oval A and B on the bright Sunday, September 28, 2025, while Gujarat Tridents celebrated deep into the night after the revenge against Panjab Warriors in the finals.
Organised by Tema Royal and sponsored by Dunamis Shipping and Logistics, the 4 groups of 3 saw two teams from each, qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Fearless Fighters and Accra Titans made it from Group A with 4 and 2 points, respectively, leaving Royal Palace Challengers with no points.
DPS Plastic Tamil Pasanga won 2 matches against Royal Stars Tema and Indian Strikers Kumasi in Group B. Royal Stars beat the Kumasi lads to book the last 8 place. In Group C, Defenders 11 took the top spot with 4 points, while Tema Royals followed up after beating Polytex Panthers.
Group D was where the champions were made, as Gujarat needed to beat Salt n Pepper to find their way into the quarter finals after losing to exceptional Panjab Warriors.
Accra Titans, Roya Stars, Tema, Panjab Warriors, and Gujarat Tridents made one more step into stardom with victories against DPS Plastic, Fearless Fighters, Tema Royals, and Defenders 11, respectively.
Panjab Warriors were ruthless in their 19-run victory against Royal Stars Tema, after the 65/5 and 46/4 results in the semis. GT, on the other hand, needed open arms and, with limited loss of wickets, outscored the 53/5 score by Accra Titans, rounding it all up in 4.1 overs, with 56/3.
Before the finals, Accra Titans made themselves proud, beating Royal Stars Tema by 26 runs in the third-place game. Ayub Khan 45*(13) and Bholu Patel 35*(17) gave Royal Stars a huge mountain to climb, scoring 84/1 and limiting the former to 58/6.
It was one of the finals that many would not expect a quick fall of wickets, as the intensity of the game died down in the second innings, after Gujarat had scored 59/2. Punjab lost quick wickets, with the big fish, Sukh Sanghu, falling in the 1.4 over, after Ikhlaq Jamil had taken 3 wickets already.
Waqas, Hassan Ali Shah, and Devender Singh Malik wrapped things up for Panjab, who managed 28/8, while Gujarat added to their trophy cabinet with 31 31-run victory.
It was a sweet revenge for GT, who lost a group match by 9 wickets to Panjab Warriors, after 37/4 and 38/1 in 2.1 overs.
Ayub Khan of Accra Titans was the best batter with 107 runs and the most valuable player with 18.82 points, whereas Anmol Signh Virk won the best bowler accolade with 9 wickets. Jaseem of Royals Stars Tema came tops in the best fielder ladder with 10 dismissals and 4 catches.
It was another time to celebrate the Cricket fever in a modified way, as the hardball Cricket league resumed at the Achimota Cricket Oval by the Ghana Cricket Association.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
