Women’s T20i tourney: Nigeria beat Rwanda by four wickets

Nigeria’a women cricket team, the Female Yellow Greens, picked up their second win of the ongoing Nigeria Cricket Federation Women’s T20i tournament with a five-wicket win over Rwanda on Wednesday at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, Lagos.

Following a setback in their previous match against Tanzania, Nigeria displayed resilience and determination, restricting Rwanda to nine wickets in the first innings. The Yellow Greens then managed to score 99 runs for the loss of five wickets within the allocated 20 overs (99/5).

Nigeria initially faced a challenging start, conceding 22 runs in the first three overs to Rwanda. However, they quickly adapted to their opponent’s strategy, with Peculiar Agboya delivering a crucial wicket with her fast bowling in the third over.

Player of The Match, Adeshola Adekunle, tormented Rwanda with her bowling, as she got four wickets while captain Blessing Etim and Salome Sunday also added a couple, but despite their wickets falling, Rwanda pushed the innings to record 95 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs.

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Nigeria’s chase of the target in the second innings also started slowly, yet they took control of the game with 56 runs for no loss in the first 10 overs, thanks to the partnership of opening batters, Favour Eseigbe and Esther Sandy.

Sandy was, however, the first to go after she was caught in the 12th over, while captain Etim, Piety Lucky and Eseigbe were also out at intervals.

With two wins each and three rounds of matches to go, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania are in a neck-and-neck race for the title at this year’s tournament.

Nigeria will face Sierra Leone for the second time on Thursday (today) in the afternoon after Rwanda and Tanzania have faced off in the morning.