Share
By Abiodun Adewale.
Nigeria’s female senior cricket team, the Female Yellow Greens will on Monday (today) face the best ranked team at the ongoing Kwibuka Women’s tournament in Rwanda after making a flying start to their fourth campaign with three wins in three games so far, The PUNCH reports.
Nigeria currently tops the Kwibuka table with six points while Uganda are second with four points having won their first two games as well.
After overcoming Rwanda by six wickets in their opening game on Saturday, the ladies followed it up on Sunday with another six wickets win over Botswana before seeing off Kenya, the second-best team at the tournament by three wickets.
Salome Sunday, who inspired Nigeria to the NCF T20i win over the Rwandans in Lagos in April was again voted player of the match in the game that saw the Female Yellow Greens prevent Rwanda from taking a revenge of the final loss and begin their campaign on a high.
Nigeria played two matches on Sunday, recording another six wickets win over Botswana, the fifth ranked nation at the tourney before facing Kenya.
Captain Blessing Etim won the toss and elected to field first against Botswana, a tactic that saw Nigeria chase their opponent’s 97 and record 98 runs for the loss of four wickets in 16.2 overs.
Teenage batting sensation, Lucky Piety was the player of the match against Kenya with 32 runs from 27 balls with two massive boundaries six and one four to help Nigeria post 98 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 16.2 overs while Kenya had 95 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs.
Head coach of the team, Leke Oyede, told The PUNCH that the team will be ready for Uganda.
“It’s been a great start to the tournament for us. I think the opening victory against the host, Rwanda, pumped up the girls’ confidence. Naturally, Nigeria and Rwanda’s encounters at this level have evolved into a friendly rivalry and, since we beat them to win the last tournament in April, in Lagos, I know we will need to work harder anytime we meet them again.
“These wins put us on top of the leaderboard and unbeaten, ahead of our game on Monday (today) against Uganda, one of the top teams here, who are also unbeaten after two wins against Botswana and host Rwanda as well.”
The ongoing ninth Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament is featuring Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, and hosts.
