The battle for places in the finals of the NCF PwC National U17 Championships intensified on Saturday as the competition entered its decisive semi-final stage, with teams from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones battling for a place in the championship match.
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South South Girls Top Group A
In the girls’ category, South South U17 finished top of Group A after an impressive six-wicket victory over South West U17.
South West struggled with the bat and were bowled out for 63 runs, while South South successfully chased the target, finishing on 64/4 to secure the win and confirm their place in the knockout stage.
Ojong Powers South South Boys to Big Win
In the boys’ event, Ebarim Bright Ojong delivered a standout performance, scoring 68 runs off 66 balls to guide South South U17 to a commanding 143-run victory over North West U17.
South South posted 157/4 in their innings before producing a devastating bowling display to dismiss North West for just 14 runs, sealing one of the most dominant victories of the tournament so far.
Semi-Final Action Underway
The semi-final clashes began with intense contests in both categories.
In Girls’ Semi-Final 1, South South posted 99/9 after batting first against North West, setting up an intriguing chase as North West required 91 runs to advance to the final.
Meanwhile, in Boys’ Semi-Final 1, South South were bowled out for 55 runs against South East, leaving South East with a modest target of 56 runs to secure a place in the final.
With the second innings underway in both matches, attention now turns to which teams will emerge victorious and claim the coveted spots in the final of the national youth championship.
Fixtures at a Glance
Boys – Semi-Finals
SF1 (9:00 AM): South South vs South East
SF2 (1:00 PM): South West vs North West
Girls – Semi-Finals
SF1 (9:00 AM): South South vs North West
SF2 (1:00 PM): South East vs South West
Road to the Final
Boys Tournament
Group A
South South
North West
North Central
Group B
South West
South East
North East
Semi-Final Path
SF1: South South vs South East
SF2: South West vs North West
Final
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
Girls Tournament
Group A
South South
South West
North Central
Group B
South East
North West
North East
Semi-Final Path
SF1: South South vs North West
SF2: South East vs South West
Final
Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
As the NCF PwC National U17 Championships reaches its climax, the young cricketers are showcasing skill, resilience and promise, highlighting the bright future of cricket development across Nigeria.
