Nigeria, Tanzania top leaderboard at Women’s T20i in Lagos
With three wins from four matches, Nigeria and Tanzania are joint leaders at the on-going NCF Women’s T20i Invitational Tournaments with six points apiece at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.
Tanzania is though leading by Net Run Rate (NRR: 2.337) after losing only their first of the four games so far to Rwanda by 33-run, and has gone undefeated since then. Nigeria, who has the same point but with less (0.625) NRR, 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.
Chairman of the Organsising Committee of the event, Chuma Anosike, has urged Nigerians to troop out to support the national team as the tournament enters its crescendo.
“This event has become one of the biggest female events in the country, and we are proud of what we have built so far. We are equally glad to see that the Nigerian team is having a good run so far.
“The momentum this event has given all the teams will help their preparation for the African Games in Ghana and we are glad all the teams are having good opposition and giving them the needed challenge.
This wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of the friends and sponsors of the game of cricket across the country.”
Yesterday was declared rest day for all the teams, while match resumes today, with the last matches coming up tomorrow at the TBS Cricket Oval.
Rwanda and Sierra Leone will open today’s action at 10.15 a.m., before Nigeria takes on Tanzania later at 2.15 p.m.
Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Genral Manager, Emeka Igwilo, said the weekend games are expected to attract dignitaries across the sporting world, including some friends and sponsors of the game.
He said: “We have had a number of interests, including sponsors and top dignitaries in the sporting world, asking to be part of the weekend games and that is encouraging.
“The Female Yellow-Greens is one of the testaments to a well-curated sports development programme and this event is an avenue to showcase the gains form such project.”
The fifth NCF Women’s t20i Invitational Tournament would be concluded tomorrow with the winner being the team that has garnered the highest points from the stipulated six matches.
Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania are participating in the event.