*SOUTH-SOUTH REIGNS SUPREME AS CURTAIN FALLS ON THE 3RD EDITION OF THE NCF/PwC NATIONAL UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS IN ABUJA.*
*22nd February 2022*
South-South are crowned champions in the 3rd edition finals of the NCF/PwC National Under-17 Cricket championship in Abuja in both Boys and Girls category. It was ‘de ja vu’ all over again as the memories from the 2nd edition in Benin City 2021 clouded the environment when the champion song was played and the red Trojan’s from South-South lifted the trophy in a joint celebration.
South East had earlier made history in the semi-finals when they defeated North West in the Boys category and North Central in the Girls category to set up a possible upset against the defending champions. The results may not have turned out as expected but it is evident that something special is happening in the South East Region and in the near future, they too can establish dominance in this game.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (BOYS)
*1st Position—South-South (Winners Trophy/Medals)*
*2nd Position – South East (Runner up Trophy/Medals)*
*3rd Position – North West (Third Place Trophy/Medals)*
M.V.P – Prosper Useni – S.S *(Shield/20,000 cash + Educational Tablet)*
Best Batter – Adam Ibrahim –N.W *(Shield + 15,000 cash)*
Best Bowler – Udekwe Chiemelie – S.E *(Shield + 15,000cash)*
Best Fielder – Okeke Damian Chijioke – S.E *(Shield + 15,000 cash)*
Best Endevour – Jamiu Zakariya – N.C *(Shield + 15,000 cash)*
Best Behaved – Oresonwo Femi – S.W *(Shield + 10,000 cash)*
TOURNAMENT TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (GIRLS)
*1st Position—South-South (Winners Trophy/Medals)*
*2nd Position – South East (Runner up Trophy/Medals)*
*3rd Position – North Central (Third Place Trophy/Medals)*
*INDIVIDUAL AWARDS*
M.V.P – Peculiar Agboya – S.S *(Shield/20,000 cash + Educational Tablet)*
Best Batter – Peity Lucky –S.S *(Shield + 15,000 cash)*
Best Bowler – Queen Joseph – N.W *(Shield + 15,000cash)*
Best Fielder – Precious Simon – N.W *(Shield +15,000 cash)*
Best Endevour – Gift Simon – N.W *(Shield + 15,000 cash)*
Best Behaved – Aisha Mohammed- N.E *(Shield + 15,000)*
FINAL MATCH REPORT (BOYS)
*SOUTH-EAST vs SOUTH-SOUTH*
South-South won the toss and elected to bat first and scored an impressive total of 123 runs all out in 29.1 overs. Samuel Victor led from the front with 34 runs off 66 balls, strongly supported by Prosper Useni with 17 runs off 16 balls as the best bating figures for South-South
Udekwe Chiemelie was the best performer with the ball for South East with 3 wickets 3 conceding 27 runs in 6 overs.
In the second innings, South East started brightly with the opening pairs racing on 7 runs per over after 4 overs to set them up for a great bating spell. However, the bowling attack from South-South came into full gear and wickets tumbled in quick succession to restrict South east to an eventual score of 82 runs all out in 20.2 overs.
Elochukwu Ndubudem scored 27 runs off 21 balls as the best bating statistics for South East.
Joshua Asia got 3 wickets conceding 8 runs in 3.2 overs, supported by Prosper Useni with 3 wickets conceding 22 runs in 6 overs to ensure victory for South-South
Prosper Useni was named player of the Match
*South-South won by 41 runs*
*FINAL MATCH (GIRLS)*
*South East vs South-South*
South East won the toss and elected to field first sending in South-South to bat. South-South scored a total of 129 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.
Piety Lucky was the star performer once again, starting where she left off during the second edition in Benin City, this time with an impressive score of 63 runs off 42 balls, five 4’s and the only 6 runs in the tournament, supported by Divine Uranta with 19 runs off 23 balls.
Lilian Ude of South East got 3 wickets conceding 20 runs in 4 overs as the best bowling figures for her team.
In the second innings, South East could not handle the bowling strength of the South-South team with tournament revelation, Peculiar Agboya proving too strong for the batters. In the end, South East could only manage a total of 61 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs.
Rejoice Assan and Diving Uranta both had 2 wickets conceding 9 and 12 runs in 4 overs respectively.
Lucky Piety was named player of the match.
*South-South won by 68 runs.*
*THIRD PLACE BOYS*
*NORTH WEST vs NORTH CENTRAL*
The 3rd place match turned out to be one of the spectacles of the tournament with North Central aiming to further pile misery on the disappointed North West team. North Central won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring a total of 57 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 10 overs.
In the second innings, North West Struggled to get across the line after managing to score the required run off the last ball of the match to record 58 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 10 overs
David Garba was named player of the Match.
*North West won by 2 wickets.*
*THIRD PLACE (GIRLS)*
NORTH WEST vs NORTH CENTRAL
North Central eventually got a much deserved consolation with all the efforts put into the tournament from the beginning, when they defeated North West to win the 3rd place match.
North West won the toss and elected to bowl first, sending in North Central to bat. North Central scored a total of 60 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 15 overs.
In the second innings, North West fell short of the required total by scoring 47 runs allout in 11.3 overs.
Kafizat Kolawole was named player of the match.
*North Central won by 13 runs.*
Ends……………….
MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
TOURNAMENT COORDINATOR