The ICC world Twenty20 Africa ‘A’ Qualifier 2018 kicked off today at Tafawa Balewa Cricket Pitch, Lagos, Nigeria as Nigeria opened the championship taking on Sierra leone in the 20 overs bash. Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to field as Nigeria batted 165 runs for the loss of 6 wickets.  See below the statistics of the top three scores by Nigerian batsmen in the first innings:

Chimezie. O: 54 runs (34 Balls) 3 (4s) 4 (6s) Strike Rate: 158.82

Oladotun. O: 49 Runs (35 Balls) 8 (4s) 1 (6) Strike Rate: 140.0

Ademola. O: 26 Runs (24 Balls) 3 (4s) 1 (6) Strike Rate: 108.33

Batting Total: 165 Runs.

Below is the first innings top bowling statistics of Sierra Leone;

AB Kamara: 2 Wkts, 23 Runs,   3 Overs.

S Williams: 1 Wkt,   15 Runs,    3 Overs.

I Kamara: 1 Wkt,     23 Runs,   4 Overs.

In the second innings, Sierra Leone chased but could only score 77 runs all out in 18.1 overs. Below is the batting statistics of the top 3 scoring batsmen in the second innings:

2nd Innings.

L Lamin:      17 Runs (20 Balls) 1 (4) Strike Rate: 85.00

I Mansaray: 15 Runs (33 Balls) 1 (4) Strike Rate: 45.45

Y Jalloh:      12 Runs (14 Balls) 1 (4) Strike Rate: 85.71

Strategic bowling and fielding from the Nigeria team saw the team keep the Sierra Leonian side on 77 runs as Nigerian national team debutant, Taiwo Muhammed, not only took his first international wicket, but also took the highest number of wickets to seal the win for Nigeria.

Below is the top three Nigeria bowling statistics:

Mohammed T: 3 Wkts, 14 Runs, 3.1 Overs.

Syvester O: 2 Wkts, 6 Runs, 3 Overs.

Chimezie O: 2 Wkts, 10 Runs, 4 Overs.

The icing on Nigeria winning the match with 88 runs was that the captain of the team, Chimezie Onwuzulike, was named Man of the Match.

Nigeria’s Captain, Onwuzulike Chimezie receiving the Man of the Match award from the president of Nigeria Cricket Federation.

Game Day1, Match 2.

Ist Innings

In the second match of Day1 between Ghana and Gambia, Ghana won the toss and elected to bat scoring 173 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs. Below is the batting statistics of the three top batsmen.

R Bakum :    44 Runs  (33 Balls) 3 (4s) 2(6s) Strike Rate: 133.33

JH Mensah : 37 Runs  (25 Balls) 4 (3s) 2 (6s) Strike Rate: 148.00

DNA Ankrah : 34 Runs (22 Balls) 6 (4s) Strike Rate: 154.54

Below is the statistics of the Sierra Leonian bowling:

Andre Jarju        2 Wkts, 29 Runs, 3 Overs

Ansumana Jarju  1 Wkt, 23 Runs,  3 Overs

2nd Innings

In the second innings, Gambia gave a good chase but could only score 115 runs for 8 in 20 overs.

Below is the batting statistics of the top two batsmen from the Gambian side.

P Faye: 55 Runs (46 Balls) 9 (4s) Strike Rate: 119.56.

Andre Jarju: 19 Runs (16 Balls) 1 (4) 1(6) Strike Rate: 119.56.

Below is the bowling statistics of Ghana’s top performing bowlers:

IKO Aboagye   2 Wks, 21 Runs,    4 Overs

DM Perrira       2 Wkts, 16 Runs, 2 Overs

Ghana won the match by 58 runs as P Faye won the Man of the Match.