Cricket – National Team Shines Again in Botswana

Adeolu Johnson

17 May 2011

Nigeria kept her hopes of reaching the Africa Premier League Division 1 T20 tournament in Uganda in July later this year alive thanks to a 68 runs victory over Sierra Leone at the Willowmore Cricket Stadium in Ekurhuleni, Botswana.

Sean Phillips and Kunle Adegbola played a vital role; sharing a 3rd and 5th wicket stand of 78 runs to virtually end the West African team of any victory.

Sean (109 not out off 59 balls) led the way with some brilliant fours and fat sixes while the trio duo of Kunle Adegbola (18 runs not out) and Ademola Onikoyi (11 runs) ensured a total of 180-4 after 20 overs.

Captain Lansana Lamin’s choice to field first after winning the toss worked against him as the bowlers Gabriel Anthony, Julius Quee, Kamara Emmanuel and Marah Edward took one wicket each with the latter the biggest culprit dropping Sean when he was still trying to settle into the game.

Despite the early setback suffered by the Sierra Leonean’s while batting during the second innings Kamara Abubakar squeezed out 47 runs and was assisted by Lansana Lamin who added 14 runs to the 112-9 recorded.

Man of the Match Sean Phillips led the bowling onslaught with 4 wickets for 17 runs in 4 overs and his efforts were complemented by Saheed Akolade, Kunle Adegbola and Captain Endurance Ofem who had one wicket each.

In the second match of the day played at “Field B” of the Eastern Cricket Ground Peter Ananya, Ghana’s captain lost the toss and was put to bat by Nigeria’s captain Endurance Ofem who had believe that the bowling qualities his side has got will see him through as well as make things easy for the batsmen in the second innings.

The tactics paid off as spin bowler Lekan Awolowo who was playing his first 20/20 match at the tournament took 5 wickets for 24 runs in 3 overs and also got an hatrick while Pace bowler Joshua Ogunlola also made life uncomfortable for the Ghanians in the batting crease when he picked two wickets.

Despite loosing early wickets Samson Kwesi Awiah displayed some courageous batting by hitting 40 runs, left-hand batsman Obed Harvey (24 runs) and James Viva contributed 13 runs with the team finishing on 114-8.

Ramit Gill produced another stunning batting display when he notched up 57 runs not out off 43 balls to help Nigeria seal a 7 wicket victory over their bitter rivals Ghana.

Though Coach/Player Sean Phillips could not replicate what he did in the morning he was able to form a good partnership with with Ramit by also scoring 39 runs and opening batsman Emmanuel Okwudili (11 runs) while Vincent Ateak was the best bowler for the Former Gold Coast with his 2 wickets for 7 runs in 4 overs.

Although the Captain Endurance Ofem team started slowly during the second innings of the crunch tie the squad that has got abundant talents in all areas of the game was able to make it three wins out of three.

After the two games, Sean said: “I am very happy with my overall performance in both games and the efforts put in by the entire team, it’s highly commendable and that goes to show the support of Nigerian Cricket Federation,total commitment on the part of the players and the prayers of Nigerians back home”.

He concluded by telling his team “it’s not huru yet and maximum concentration has to be attached to every game because of the importance that comes with those matches”.

With Agency Reports

AllAfrica – All the Time