Kenya vs Nigeria (Match 5)
Nigeria had a final chance to show their true credentials in the last match of the tri series as they battled Kenya for pride and bragging rights.
Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat first. The match seemed like De Ja Vu again with not the ideal start that we had hoped for. The man in form, Sesan Adedeji yet again, rose to the occasion by sitting comfortably on 48 runs, supported by the big man Chimezie, Onwuzilike at 38 to leave Nigeria on 101 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 14 overs. Rain interrupted play for a little while to leave Nigeria with a revised 18 overs to play.
Nigeria eventually finished with her tournament highest of 133 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 18 overs
Sesan Adedeji finished with another half century, scoring 55 runs off 47 balls, quietly supported by Chimezie Onwuzilike who finished with 54 runs off 41 balls, as the most impressive bating statistics for Nigeria in this tournament.
Shem Ogoche Obada and Elijah Asoyo both had 2 wickets as the best bowling figures for Kenya.
In the second innings, Kenya started brightly in their run chase knowing they have to play a perfect innings to beat Nigeria. Rushabhvardhan Patel caused an early scare when he raced to 22 runs off 10 balls hitting five 4’s in the process. Nigeria clawed back with the bowling genius of Rasheed Abolarin to halt any further damage.
Over by over, Nigeria too charge of the game until a late surge of 41 runs of 31 balls from Shem Ugoche Obado. Rain interrupted play again with Kenya on 107 runs for the loss 5 wickets in 15 overs, setting the game poised for a grand finale.
The game had to be concluded by Duckworth Lewis (D/L) method because of the rain, leaving Kenya agonizingly short of the revised total of 111 runs.
Rasheed Abolarin was the star performer with the ball, taking 3 wickets, conceding 8 runs is 2 over. Propsper Useni and Sesan Adedeji also got their names on the scoresheet as well with 1 wicket at piece.
Nigeria won by 4 runs (D/L) Calculations