NIGERIA TAKES CONTROL OF THE SERIES AS SIERRA LEONE IS BEATEN BY 69 RUNS

Nigeria Senior Men’s team AKA Yellow Greens rose from the ashes to take a firm grip on the series as they beat Sierra Leone in the most convincing way on match day 3 of the 6 proposed T201 match series.

Stunned in the first game to a 6 wicket defeat, struggle in the second game to win by 6 runs, team Nigeria raised the bar a little higher in the 3rd game to show a glimpse of what the team can really do.

Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to field first to make it 3 times on a spin. Nigeria shuffled the bating line up a bit which saw Ashmit Sherestha open the bating with Elijah Olaleye. Nigeria had a much better start this time with the bat in the power play over but not without losing Elijah Olaleye for 3 run and Sesan Adedeju for just 1 run. The middle order batsmen struggled once again as Captain Joshua Ayannaike fell for just 2 runs and Daniel Gim unlucky with 8 runs off 10 balls. the team yet again had to rely on Isaac Okpe to deliver as a huge question mark still hovers around the bating department of the Nigeria team.

Nigeria eventually recorded their highest total for the series, scoring 124 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.

Isaac Okpe led the pack with 22 runs off 18 balls, supported by his younger brother Sylvester Okpe with 22 runs off 21 balls, early contributions from Ashmit with 20 runs off 22 balls and a late charge from Rasheed Abolarin and Chima Akachukwu hitting 20 runs off 12 balls and 16 runs off 16 balls respectively.

Abubakarr Kamara and Samuel Conteh got 2 wickets each as the best bowling figures for Sierra Leone.

In the second innings, Nigeria were ruthless in their runs defense with Sierra Leone struggling to piece together a decent partnership, losing wickets in every over to pile the pressure early on. opening 3 batters for Sierra Leone had be lost by the 3 over with the 8 runs on the board which left a mountain too high to climb. Captain Lasana Lamin tried to respond but wickets fell around leaving him frustrated.

In the end, Sierra Leone could only manage a total of 55 runs all out in 10 overs, much to excitement of the Nigeria bench and disappointment for their West Africa counterpart, fans and faithful that have joined in from across the world.

Lasana Lamin scored 15 runs off 31 balls, supported by Miniru Kpaka with 16 runs off 12 balls as the best bating contribution for Sierra Leone

Prosper Useni got 3 led the log with 3 wickets, conceding 7 runs in 3 overs, supported, Sylvester Okpe and Chima Akachukwu with 2 wickets each to round up a very impressive bowling performance for the Yellow Greens.

Sylvester Okpe was named player of the match for the second time in a role.

Nigeria won by 69 runs

MATCH FIXTURES

22nd October, Friday— REST DAY

23rd October, Saturday, 4th T-20, — 10:am

24th October, Sunday, 5th T-20, — 2: pm

25th October, Monday, — REST DAY

26th October, Tuesday, 6th T-20 —- 10: am

Ends………

MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (NCF)