NCF WOMEN’S T20I TOURNAMENT (DAY 1 MATCH REPORT)

  • Nigeria and Rwanda record huge wins in opening fixtures
  • Sunday Salome hits 1st half century of the tournament
  • Ghana and Sierra Leone on the back foot after heavy losses

The much anticipated NCF Women’s T20I tournament began with all the thrills and excitement as the first ball of the competition was delivered. After a swap in the timing of the earlier fixtures, the first match of the NCF Women T20I Tournament was rescheduled to have the Ghana vs Rwanda.

*Day 1: Match 1*

*Ghana vs Rwanda*

Ghana won the toss and elected to field first, sending in Rwanda to bat. Early fall of wickets from Rwanda opening bat Sarah Uwera, gave Ghana a much expected start as she scored no runs facing 13 balls. Giselle Ishimwe however stayed firmed on the other end to hold her wicket to produce an impressive total of 37 runs in 29 deliveries.

Wickets fell every other over but the runs kept ticking making the game very exciting and unpredictable. In the end, Rwanda finished with 135 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs

Giselle Ishimwe scored 37 runs off 29 balls, supported by Marie Diane with 26 runs off 18 balls and Cathia Uwamahoro with 15 runs off 19 balls.

Miriam Eshun got 3 wickets conceding 20 runs in in 2 overs, strongly supported by Emmanuella Nyaaba with 2 wickets, Kate Awuah with 2 wickets respectively.

In the second innings, Rwanda made light work of the runs defense, picking up wickets at will to ensure that the first 6 batters cumulatively scored just 7 runs between them. There was a late spark from Rhyda Ofori and Ellen Otu Asante with 9 and 12 runs respectively, but not sufficient to inspire their team to victory. In the end, Ghana could only manage 54 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 14.2 overs.

Vumilia Margueritte got 4 wickets conceding 7 runs in 4 overs, supported by Muhawenimana Immaculee with 2 wickets conceding 5 runs in 2 overs.

Vumilia Margueritte was named player of the match.

Rwanda won by 81 runs.

 

Day 1: Match 2:

(Nigeria vs Sierra Leone)


The 2 West Africa Cricket giants clashed for the first time in this tournament but not without the history of the fierce rivalry at the back of their minds. National Anthem from both countries was sung prior to the game which only escalated the excitement.

Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to field first, thereby sending in Nigeria to Bat. Nigeria had a clear agenda in mind when Lucky Piety and Kehinde Abdulquadri were sent in to open the bating for Nigeria. Piety fell in the first over to send some shivers to the bench of the Nigeria even though the scoring rate was high. Nigeria lost Kehinde in the in the 3rd over on 14 runs which brought in Omonye Asika on Number 4. The pair of Omonye and Salome Sunday was able to see out the power play over to leave Nigeria comfortably over 30 runs.

Salome Sunday blasted away from the moment she mounted the crease, scoring boundaries at will to record the first half century of the tournament. She was complimented by Blessing Etim to ensure that Nigeria finished the innings with just the loss of 3 wickets.

Salome led the bating score with an impressive 61 runs off 63 balls not out, supported by Blessing Etim with 31 runs off 29 balls and finally, Omoye Asika with 20 runs off 26 balls.

Janet Kowa got 2 wickets, conceding 37 runs in 4 overs as the best bowling performance for Sierra Leone.

In the second innings, Nigeria got 2 early breakthroughs just like Sierra Leone to dismiss Batters 2 and 3 in just 3.2 overs. Sierra Leone responded well through Mabinty King and Annmarie Monica who scored 30 runs off 49 balls and 28 runs off 43 balls respectively. However, it was a case of too little too late as the late surge of Sierra Leone resulted in late fall of wickets and an eventual score of 90 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.

Blessing Etim was also handy with the ball, leading the bosling figures for Nigeria with 2 wickets, conceding 16 runs in 4 over.

16 years old Ude Lillian made her debut for the country today and also taking a wicket to wrap up an all impressive display from Nigeria

Blessing Etim was named player of the match.

Nigeria won by 41 runs.

                TOURNAMENT FIXTURES

*Day 2: 29th March 2022*

(Morning Fixtures:  9:30am)
Nigeria vs Gambia


(Afternoon Fixtures: 1:50 pm)
Ghana vs Sierra Leone

*Day 3: 30th March 2022*

(Morning Fixtures: 9:30am)
Rwanda vs Sierra Leone

(Afternoon Fixtures: 1:50pm)
The Gambia vs Ghana

*Day 4: March 31st*

(REST DAY)

*Day 5: April 1st*

(Morning Fixtures: 9:30am)
Nigeria vs Ghana

(Afternoon Fixtures: 1:50pm)
Rwanda vs The Gambia

*Day 6: April 2nd*


(Morning Fixtures: 9:30am)
Sierra Leone vs The Gambia

(Afternoon Fixtures: 1:50pm)
Nigeria vs Rwanda

*Day 7: April 3rd*

(Morning Fixtures: 9:30am)
3rd Place


(Afternoon Fixtures: 1:50pm)
Final

4th March (DEPARTURE)

Ends………………

 

MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER