Cricket: Edo wins national women’s championship

The Edo team to the 2024 Nigeria Cricket Federation’s national women’s championship on Sunday beat Akwa Ibom by 89 runs to emerge winners.

Akwa Ibom had won the toss and elected to field but the Edo women batting prowess couldn’t be contained. Igbinedion Victory led the runs chase with 40 from 54 balls. Piety Lucky contributed 36 from 23 balls while Annointed Akhigbe added 12 from 18 balls. The first innings ended with 128 runs by the Edo team.

Peace Usen, player of the match, took five wickets in four overs, conceding six runs and one maiden.

Favour Eseigbe, Edo state’s captain, said she is proud of the team’s achievement, adding that all members gave their best.

“We have a compact team and we owe everything to our dedication and commitment,” Eseigbe said.

The second innings was a cakewalk for the inspired Edo team who saw off Akwa Ibom batters in 12 overs with a paltry 39 runs to show.

Uyi Akpata, president of the NCF, said the championship has confirmed what concerted effort in the growing women’s sports can produce.

“It has been seven days of quality cricket and showcase of skills by girls from all the six geo-political zones of the country. We had Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Edo States,” Akpata said.

“We are turbocharging our girl-child and laying a solid foundation for the future of cricket and the Nigerian girls.”