Nigeria’s youth female cricket team will this Monday confront Malawi in their second game at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa qualification competition in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Sports247 reports that the Nigerian teenagers will enter the game with upbeat motivation, following their four-wicket win over Ugabda in their opening match on Sunday.
Expectations for another victory are very high, after the Junior Female Yellow Greens started their Division 1 campaign by the Ugandans in a low-scoring opening encounter.
Uganda won the toss and elected to bat, but Nigeria’s disciplined bowling attack kept the opposing batters under sustained pressure, while restricting them to 59 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Shadiah Gilingish Nabulime top-scored for Uganda with 22 runs from 34 balls, while Jimia Abdallah Mohamed contributed 13 runs from 25 deliveries.
Nigeria’s bowling unit delivered an impressive collective performance, led by Chisom Okpe, who claimed 2 wickets for just 4 runs in four overs, and Peace Usen, who returned figures of 2 wickets for 12 runs.
With 60 runs required for victory, Nigeria’s chase appeared under control before Uganda’s Tino Sarah produced a remarkable spell that brought the contest to life, while Sarah claimed five wickets for 13 runs in four overs, including two maiden overs, as Nigeria lost wickets at regular intervals.
Omosigho Eguakun provided the foundation for the innings with a patient 24 off 29 balls, while Christabel Chukwuonye supplied an important attacking contribution, scoring 13 from 10 deliveries, including three boundaries.
Nigeria’s campaign continues on Monday, as the team looks to build on this opening result and press toward a place in the next stage of the global qualification pathway.
STATS
Uganda U19 Women: 59/7 (20 overs)
Nigeria U19 Women: 60/6 (13.1 overs)
Nigeria won by 4 wickets.
