The National Women’s Cricket Team, the Female Yellow-Greens, opened their quest for the International Cricket Council’s Women T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2023 in defeat on Sunday at the Entebbe Cricket Oval, to Namibia Women’s team (The Capricorn Eagles), by nine runs.
The defeat, where Nigeria failed to chase a 122-run, has piled pressure on the team in their next encounters against Rwanda and host Uganda, although the team’s coach Leke Oyede, is unperturbed.
According to the him; “I think it is too early to judge our chances by this game. We have ringed some changes in the team since the last time we played in Lagos. And the team, despite playing a tough side today, gave a good account of itself.”
He said, for followers of the team, they would have noticed that, despite the defeat, the team played better cricket in the encounter, and assured that the fielding lapses that cost the team some leakages will be addressed.
Nigeria had won the toss and elected to field against the Namibian Women. The opponent snucked 122/2 in the first inning. Lucky Piety bowling brilliance helped tame the Namibian batting force. She took Jurriene Diergaardt at 10.6 and provided the salvo that gave Yasmeen Khah’s wicket away to Adekunle Adeshola catch.
In Nigeria’s inning, Peculiar Agboya, batting at number three brought in an early spark that steadied the two early wicket dismissals, and put some respectable runs on board to cut down the run rate before she was bowled at 8.6 by Naomi Benjamin. She had contributed 24 runs from 27 balls, that included three boundaries.
Piety again stood in the crease for 17 overs with 43 runs (that included five boundaries) to increase her brilliant contribution to Nigeria’s total of 113, ten-run short of snapping up the required victory.
In the second game on Sunday, host Uganda overran Rwanda by six wickets.
Nigeria’s next game would be against Rwanda, on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023. A match they must win to have a chance at the semi-finals of the African Qualifiers. Nigerian Women will be taking on Uganda in their last group encounter on Thursday December 14.
Nigeria is in Group B, with Namibia, Rwanda and host Uganda, Group A consists of Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and Tanzania. Both Zimbabwe and Tanzania are blazing the trail in the group.
Source: This Day
