Wrapping up a great Cricket season for the Ghana Cricket Association was the triumph of Royal King Punjab, as the champions of the 3rd tier, after their 5-wicket win in the finals against Achimota Cricket Club (ACC) at the Achimota Cricket Oval C, on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
The Royals, who made it to the finals, delivered a 14-run (117/9 in 19.2 & 103/9) victory over Panjab Warriors in the Super Knockout game on Sunday, January 11, 2026.
Meeting for the 3rd time in the double round robin league of 3 and fighting for promotion into the Division 2 league, Royal King Punjab dictated the pace of the game after winning the toss and electing to field first.
A slow but steady innings saw ACC put up a decent score of 139/10 in 18.4 overs, while the likes of Charles Ohene, Charles Des Bordes, Philip Danquah, Bruce Okine Nii Ayitey, Danzibel Darko, and Anero Anefi suffered in the fall of wickets, producing low numbers.
Adeeb Shakir ran out Charles Ohene on the 4th ball, while ACC managed 33/3 after the power play. It looked impossible to cross the 120 score, but late boundary strikes by Anero and Danzibel, coupled with a few extras, got ACC to 128/8 after 17 overs, before Royal King Punjab wrapped things up, taking all out in 18.4 overs. Rizwan Shakir, who emerged as the player of the match, took 4 wickets and gave away 24 runs; Syed Anees Hashmi took 2 wickets and gave away 29 runs.
It was either time to restrict or open arms. Royal King Punjab openers, Sandeep Kumar and Ikhlaq Jamil, lasted 4 overs before the former was dismissed by Danzibel in the 4th over, a catch by Charles Des Bordes at mid-wicket. Danzibel achieved his double just before the power play, dismissing Ikhlaq with a clean bowled, while the Royals stood at 38/2.
ACC tightened the bowling from there, as they got 3 more wickets, Philip Yevugah taking 2 wickets in the 13th over and Judah Solomon picking his single on the 15.1 over, while Royal King Punjab stood at 94/5.
Brothers Adeeb Shakir 37*(38) and Rizwan Shakir 27*(16) tormented ACC, with their resemblance and delivered powerful shots to give rise to their hopes of achieving 140 runs. Adeeb, who came on as the 4th batter, scored three boundary 4’s, while his brother Rizwan, who joined him as the 6th batter, scored three boundary 4’s and two boundary 6’s to achieve their 140-run target in 19.2 overs.
In a short closing ceremony that ushered Royal King Punjab into Division Two League next season, Adeeb was adjudged best fielder with 6 dismissals and 4 catches, while Obed Harvey, captain of ACC, won the treble: best batter with 121 runs from 5 matches, best bowler with 11 wickets taken,n and the MVP with 35.2 points.
Next season of the Ghana Cricket Association leagues promises to be more interesting with clubs demoted to compete at the Division two, while others have been promoted to the Division one, to battle for supremacy.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
