Cricket: Everest crowned GCA President’s cup champions
Everest Cricket Club have been crowned Champions of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA) President’s Invitational T20 Tournament at the Achimota Cricket Oval after they defeated Carel Superkings (CSK) in the finals on Sunday, October 27, 2019.
Everest lifted the giant trophy having been consistent in 6 outings, including a double victory over CSK.
After winning toss and electing to bat first, Everest scored 150-4 while Ghana’s number 1 batsman, Simon Ateak ended his game through injury in the second over.
Bharani Kumar Majji (38-38) and Halim Niyaz Khan (22-25) had a great partnership hitting the boundaries a number of times with CSK’s shoddy fielding from the 2nd quarter of the 1st Innings.
David Nii Ashong Ankrah (24-17, not out) and Sriyan Lakmal Perera (9-5, not out) rounded Everest’s score after Ramish Neddy (12-12) and Michael Aboagye (13-15).
It wasn’t an easy win for Everest as Superkings made a great impact in the second Innings, scoring 52-4 in 9 overs when the rains halted play. With game resuming after few showers and upon captain’s agreement, CSK scored 106-9 in 17.2 overs while the last batsman retired due to injury.
Arumugam Venkatesh had come with lots of energy scoring 30-27 and hitting the boundary twice but it wasn’t enough to chase Everest’s score, together with efforts from Mohammed Amran (19-17), Isaac Aboagye (11-8), Peter Ananya (9-11), Daniel Anefie (11-10), Godfred Bakiweyem (7-10) and Alex Osei (5-15).
Everest therefore won the game by 44 runs while Bharani Kumar won the Man of the Match accolade with a score of 38-38 and taking 1 wicket for 25 runs in 3.4 overs.
Captain of the wining Club, Sriyan Lakmal Perera says they are happy their plans worked out perfectly.
“Actually we’re happy about executing our plans in this tournament. All our players prepare themselves 100% for all our plans we put in place before matches and that is why we always have this success.”
Meanwhile, Captain of Superkings, Selvaraj Chockalingam believes they would have done better, but for the rains.
“This is the nature of the game, I didn’t expect the batting order to go that way and I think the rain didn’t help because before the rain, we were batting good but after the rain, the grass was wet and slowed the balls. We played well and I appreciate it.”
At the closing Ceremony which was graced by GCA board members and former Cricketers, President of the Association, Emmanuel Owusu Ansah Asare expressed his gratitude to all for a successful tournament.
“We thank all the teams for helping make this tournament a success. You have all put up a great performance and made the tournament a very competitive one for the past 9 weeks. We will therefore say that you join hands with the Association to ensure the development of the game.”
Obed Harvey of Supreme Warriors Cricket Club was adjudged the Most Valuable Player and presented with a plaque, after his 13.738 batting rate, 15.163 bowling strike rate and 1.539 for fielding.
Everest’s David Nii Ashong Ankrah won the Best Fielder Accolade with 7 catches while Davenda Malik of United Cricket Club was named the Best Batsman. United CC had a double, after Rohit Sukhija was decorated with the Best Bowler honor, having taken 12 wickets and with an economy rate of 4.70.
All Man of the Matches for the 9 weeks and 27 games tournament received plaques. Umpires, Scorers, and Groundsmen were also Awarded for the contribution to the success of tournament.
Superkings were garlanded with Silver medals and a trophy for finishing as runners up.
Supreme Warriors Cricket Club emerged 2nd runners up and received a trophy and medals as their opponents, United Cricket Club couldn’t raise a team for the 3rd place play off.
The Senior Men’s National Team has started preparations towards a T20 tournament in Nigeria likely to be held in January next year.
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