As the Ghana Cricket T20 Qualifier League nears its completion, clubs eager to secure a top-four finish and qualify for the Premier League maintained their momentum during the week 11 encounters at the Achimota twin Cricket Ovals.
The Sunday, February 16, 2025, matches on Oval B saw Salt n Pepper edge past GT CC in a fiercely contested morning game to solidify their second-place position.
Salt n Pepper relied on the composed performances of Lee Nyarko and Kofi Bagabena, who grabbed crucial late wickets to limit GT CC to 123 runs, all out in 20 overs, after Salt n Pepper had posted 129/9.
Raman Madhu (36 off 32) and James Kwaku Vifah (20 off 33) fought hard for GT CC but could not secure the needed win.
With 13 runs required from the final 12 balls, Lee Nyarko delivered a brilliant penultimate over, conceding just one run and taking a wicket to leave GT CC struggling at 119/7.
Kofi Bagabena sealed the victory by dismissing Sam Michael Merbin and Anil Kumar Reddy in the final over, giving Salt n Pepper a 6-run win.
Lee Nyarko was named Player of the Match with bowling figures of 4.0-0-26-3⁰ and a crucial batting contribution of 26 runs off 18 balls. Kofi Bagabena also impressed, recording identical bowling figures of 4.0-0-26-3.
In the afternoon clash, Alpha Cricket Club continued their dominant run with a crushing 10-wicket victory over Hurricanes Cricket Club.
Hurricanes, who won the toss and opted to bat first, were restricted to 63 runs, all out in 17.2 overs. Alpha’s bowlers, including Michael Aboagye, Bharani Kumar, Halim, Judah, Isaac Aboagye, and Raja, combined effectively to dismantle the Hurricanes’ batting lineup.
Bharani Kumar Majji, in outstanding form, guided Alpha to victory alongside Aris, scoring an unbeaten 46 runs off 31 balls. The pair reached the 64-run target in just 8 overs.
Bharani Kumar claimed his fourth Player of the Match accolade, adding impressive bowling figures of 4.0-0-20-2 to his batting heroics.
Alpha Cricket Club and Salt n Pepper remain the top two teams in Qualifier B, with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Hurricanes sit 7th with 2 points, while GT CC holds the 5th spot with 4 points. With four more clubs still having two matches to play, the race for the top four spots and qualification to the Premier League remains wide open.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
