The Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) T20 Division One Qualifier concluded on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Achimota Oval with thrilling final matches across both ovals.
Rana Motors Cricket Club and Alpha Cricket Club emerged as the winners of Qualifier A and Qualifier B, respectively, despite not playing on the final day.
Qualifier A Recap
Rana Motors secured the top spot in Qualifier A with 12 points, having won all their matches except one, a loss to second-placed Carel Super Kings (CSK). CSK sealed their position with a 6-wicket victory over Supreme Cricket Club.
- Supreme Cricket Club: 96/8 (First Innings)
- Carel Super Kings: 97/4 in 12 overs
CSK’s win nearly dethroned Rana Motors, but Rana held onto the top position due to a superior Net Run Rate (NRR) of 1.889 compared to CSK’s 1.827.
Rana Motors captain, Shijo Devasia, expressed his joy at finishing first:
“Most of us were playing for other clubs, but Rana Motors decided to form a team. We gathered the players, and here we are—we see great potential with a mix of Ghanaian and foreign players. We are excited to be here.”
Evolve Paint Cricket Club finished third with 10 points after a dominant 77-run victory over Bangla Tigers:
- Evolve Paint Cricket Club: 144/8
- Bangla Tigers: 67 all out in 14.5 overs
BGC rounded off the top four with 8 points, securing their Division One League qualification over Defenders CC due to a better NRR (+1.034 vs. +0.521).
Qualifier A Awards
- Best Bowler: Hassan Shah Ali (BGC) – 17 wickets
- Best Fielder: Derrick Ateak (CSK) – 11 dismissals
- Best Batter: Richmond Baaleri Jamal (Rana Motors) – 260 runs
- MVP: Richmond Baaleri Jamal (Rana Motors) – 62.30 points
Jamal, who is also a national team player, shared his excitement: “I prepared well for this league after longing for competitive cricket. Winning these awards is a big motivation. I received my first Man of the Match award for the national team, and I hope to achieve more.”
Qualifier B Recap
Alpha Cricket Club dominated Qualifier B with a flawless campaign, finishing with 14 points and lifting the giant trophy in style.
MMG CC secured the fourth spot with 8 points after an 88-run victory against Hurricanes, edging Devnik United (also 8 points) on NRR:
- MMG CC: 126/9
- Hurricanes: 38/9 in 9 overs
MMG’s vice-captain, Dinesh Butola, was overjoyed:
“We never expected to qualify because our group had strong teams. Reaching the top flight is a huge achievement for us.”
Salt n Pepper CC finished second with 12 points after a commanding 10-wicket win over Swami Indians:
- Swami Indians: 21 all out in 6.5 overs (Kofi Bagabena took 8 wickets, conceding just 5 runs in 2.1 overs!)
- Salt n Pepper CC: 25/0
Gujurat Tridents (GT) CC secured third place with 8 points.
Qualifier B Awards
- Best Bowler: Kofi Bagabena (Salt n Pepper) – 22 wickets
- Best Fielder: Frank Baaleri (Alpha Cricket) – 9 dismissals, 3 catches
- Best Batter: Bharani Kumar Majji (Alpha Cricket) – 251 runs
- MVP: Bharani Kumar Majji (Alpha Cricket) – 55.49 points
Bagabena, who delivered an incredible 8-wicket haul in a single match, emphasized consistency: “It’s all about planning and keeping my head up. I wasn’t surprised by my performance because I’ve been working hard for moments like these.”
Closing Ceremony & Future Plans
Special guests graced the closing ceremony, presenting trophies and individual awards. They include former cricketers, Matey Newman, Emmanuel T. Tagoe, Smiley Bannerman and Captain Johnny Yamoah, as well as Nana Addo Emmanuel Ofori, Traditional Chief of Suhum.
With the Division One League set to begin soon, the Ghana Cricket Association aims to further develop the sport by encouraging more club registrations and strengthening the league structure.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
