In an effort to rejuvenate, restore and restore Cricket in the Volta Region, Secretary of the Volta Cricket Association, Victor Tetteh organized a 5-day T10 knockout competition between OLA SHS houses from Sunday, February 12, through to Thursday, February 16, 2023.
The inter-houses cricket knockout competition started with St Agnes house losing to St Joseph house on Sunday. St Agnes after winning toss scored 53 runs for 4 wickets, but St Joseph proved stronger in the second innings and scored 57 runs for no wicket in 6.3 overs, winning by 10 wickets. Amama Yando and Bernice did all the work to qualify to the next stage with their 12 runs, off 17 balls and 33 runs, off 17 balls, not out.
On Monday, Maria Goretti saw off St Augustine House by 3 wickets, after the latter won toss and scored 69 runs for 7 wickets. Goretti, score 74 runs for 7 wickets in the second innings, with Dora making an impact in the crease with 24 runs of 18 balls, not out.
The last knockout game also had St Teressa house play St Cecilia on Tuesday. With the exceptional bowling of Eunice, who took 4 wickets, gave away 3 runs in 2 overs, St Cecilia limited St Teressa to 39 runs for 6 wickets in 10 overs and easily scored 41 runs for 1 wicket in 5.1 overs, winning by 9 wickets.
St Cecilia had to lock horns with Maria Goretti in the only semifinal, while St Joseph stood bye for the finals. The Wednesday game also saw some entertaining cricket by the girls which saw almost the whole school watching and cheering.
Maria Goretti won toss and opted to field first. St Cecilia scored 64 runs for 5 wickets. Gifty Asare, captain and Ellen of Goretti took 2 wickets each and gave away 8 and 9 runs respectively in 2 overs each, while long serving Florence only protected her wicket for dot balls. Goretti sacrificed 2 wickets to achieve 65 runs in 9.5 overs, while Florence took those 2 wickets, gave away 7 runs in 2 overs. Goretti won by 8 wickets and headed for the finals.
Ellen 22(30)* and Deborah 14(14)* stood in for Maria Goretti and with several extras, scored 71 runs, for no wicket in 10 overs. Goretti restricted St Joseph, who had hard hitting Bernice 2(6) and Amama 7(7).
It was a team effort and when Bernice’ reach for boundary was caught from Ophelia’s delivery, the atmosphere went wild, as she was a big wicket and the hope for St Joseph. Not long, Amama got bowled by Ellen and that was it for St Joseph house, as they couldn’t depend on any other batter to make runs for them. They then managed 47 runs for 5 wickets in 10 overs and Maria Goretti House won by 24 runs.
The cheers were wild for the yellows as their House sports Prefect was given an award for being the best for the tournament. Best Batter went to Bernice and best bowler to Gifty Asare, captain of Maria Goretti.
P.E Master of OLA SHS and Secretary of the Volta Region Cricket Association, Victor Tetteh spoke to TalksenseSports.
“This competition was to keep the girls active and was not really what we wanted to do after the scoring and umpiring course but because they to go home. It has been hugely successful although it was in a rush. We are grateful to all for the support to make this happen and great thanks to the Ghana Cricket Association. We will be try and organize something for the boys who have been coming to train here and also helped with the knock out. We are appealing to corporate bodies and the GCA to push us with finances to do more to develop the game.”
The knockout came at the back of a 2-day Scoring and Umpiring Course that ended on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the OLA SHS.
Volta is gradually picking up the pieces and very soon will be that force they use to be, with the support of the Ghana cricket Association and Corporate bodies.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey