Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-29 03:55:54
Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens bounced back from their previous defeat to Tanzania by securing a convincing five-wicket victory against Rwanda in the NCF Women’s T20i Invitational Tournament. The match took place at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos, with Captain Blessing Etim leading her team to a successful outing.
After winning the toss, Nigeria elected to field first, allowing Rwanda to take the batting crease. A slight misfield in the opening over put Nigeria on the back foot, but the team quickly regained momentum thanks to the exceptional bowling performance of 16-year-old sensation Shola Adekunle. Shola made an impact by claiming four crucial wickets, while Peculiar Agboya and Favour Eseigbe contributed with three and two wickets respectively. Rwanda struggled to build a substantial total, finishing their innings at 95/9 after 20 overs.
In response, Nigeria’s chase began positively as Assistant Captain Favour Eseigbe and Esther Sandy provided stability at the crease. The duo put on a partnership of 58 runs before Esther was dismissed. Subsequent quick wickets put pressure on Nigeria, but Salome Sunday and Christabel Chukwuonye guided the team towards victory with a composed batting display. Nigeria reached the target of 99/5, with Shola Adekunle earning the Player of the Match award along with a cash prize of N150,000.
Coach Leke Oyede expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing the learning opportunities provided by the tournament. He highlighted the importance of making adjustments and improvements as they prepare for upcoming competitions. Tanzania also continued their winning streak by defeating Sierra Leone by 98 runs, leaving Sierra Leone as the only winless team in the competition.
The tournament action continues with Tanzania facing Rwanda in the morning match, followed by Nigeria taking on Sierra Leone. The competitive environment of the tournament is serving as a valuable learning experience for all teams involved, allowing them to fine-tune their skills and strategies. As the teams strive for success on the field, the tournament serves as a platform for growth and development within women’s cricket in Nigeria and across the region.
