Cricket: Nigeria earn 3 wins in 4 games at women’s T20i tourney

With three wins in four matches, Nigeria and Tanzania are joint leaders at the ongoing NCF women’s T20i invitational tournament at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, Lagos with six points apiece.

The Tanzanians are however leading by net run rate (2.337) after losing only their first of the four games so far to Rwanda by 33 runs and have gone undefeated since then. Nigeria, with the same point but with less (0.625) net run rate, is now condemned to win its next two matches to retain the trophy.

Rwanda has amassed four points so far and is lurking to overrun any of the two leading teams that drop points in their next two encounters at the weekend.

Chuma Anosike, chairman of the organising committee for the event, on Thursday, said Nigerians should troop out to support the national team as the tournament enters the home stretch.

“We are delighted to see that the Nigerian team is having a good run so far. The momentum the event has given all the teams will help their preparation for the Africa Games in Ghana in March and we are glad all the teams are having the needed challenge, which probably could not have been possible without the support of friends and sponsors of cricket across the country,” Anosike said.

Friday has been declared a rest day for all the teams while the match resumes on Saturday and the last games will be played on Sunday.

Rwanda and Sierra Leone will open the day on Saturday, after which Nigeria takes on Tanzania.

The winner of the 5th NCF women’s T20i invitational tournament would be the team with the highest points from the stipulated six matches. Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania are participating in the tournament.