DAY 3 REPORT

• National Under-17 Cricket Championship Girls Final successfully ends in Benin City.
• Lucky Piety sets new records as she emerged Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
• North Central emerged runners up while South East cling 3rd position.

The 2nd edition of the National Under-17 Cricket Championship Girls finals powered by PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC, ended successfully in Benin City with loads of excitement for Women’s Cricket in Nigeria. Lucky Piety sets new continental record, becoming the only woman to score a century in a Twenty20 format of the game before 18. That singular effort earned her the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award and a full academic scholarship.

South-South emerged champions of the tournament after beating North Central in the final match on Day 3.

FINAL MATCH
North Central won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring a palsy total of 59 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs. Oladejo Oluwatoyin scored 16 runs off 40 balls as the best performer with the bat for North Central.

In the second innings, South-South brought the contest to an end with quick fire response to record the required total of 60 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 8.1 overs.

Lucky Piety stole the show yet again with an impressive display of 28 runs off 16 balls, taking her tally in the tournament to 156 runs in 3 matches.

Umeh Promise got 3 wickets for 14 runs in 4overs, while Assan Rejoice and Monday Peace got 2 wickets for 13 and 14 runs respectively in 4 overs each.

Umeh Promise was named man of the final match.

South-South won by 7 wickets and crowned champions of the tournament.

Earlier in the day, North West and South West played for 4th and 5th position in a 10 overs encounter. South West won by 23 runs.

Dignitaries present during the tournament include;

1. Mr Benedict Ekanem. Representing the Honorable Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (FMYSD)
2. Mr. Uyi Akpata, Vice President, Nigeria Cricket Federation
3. Board Member, Nigeria Cricket Federation
4. Mrs. Chioma Giwa-Amu: Head of delegation, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
5. Dr. Dudu Orume: Chairman Board, Edo State Sports Commission
6. Mr. Aghedo Nosakhare John: Principal, Edo Boys High School

Others were representatives from the different sports, Veterans of the game, Media Etc.

Highlight of the tournament was the award presentation ceremony to deserving states and individuals for exceptional performances during the tournament.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

1. Lucky Piety (South-South)………………Most Valuable Player (MVP)
2. Lillian Ude (North Central)…………….Best Batsman
3. Assan Rejoice (South-South)………….Best Bowler
4. John Favor (SouthEast)………………….Best Fielder
5. Abdulrasak Rukayat (North Central)….. Best Behaved

TOURNAMENT AWARDS

South-South (Winners Trophy and Medals)……………..Champions
North Central (Runner’s up Trophy and Medals……… 2nd Position
South East (Trophy)………………………………………………….3rd Position
South West …………………………………………………………….. 4th Position
North West ……………………………………………………………… 5th Position

Other gifts received by the players and coaches include Sponsors Branded Water bottles and packets of Vitamin C supplements.

Ends………

MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR