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2011/2012 CRICKET SEASON DECLARED OPEN IN NIGERIA | (2011-11-08 )

Club Cricket Committee League Champions BRFCC cruised to a fifty-seven runs win against President's X1 on Saturday 29th October 2011 to mark the opening of the 2011/2012 Cricket Season at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval.
 
Sean Phillips claimed 5-10 while his efforts was complemented by Spinner Varun Behani who claimed 2 wickets for 5 runs in 2.3 overs as the opponents were reduced to a meagre 84 runs in 28.3 overs.
 
The Ibeju-Lekki based team won the toss and elected to bat first posting 141 run in 34 overs with Captain Sean Phillips scoring 36 runs,Bejide Jide(27 runs),Endurance Ofem (19 runs) and James Chukwu (13 runs).
 
Despite efforts by the President's X1 bowlers to dislodge their opponents it was only Femi Oduyebo and Oluwaseun Odeku who had 2 wickets each.
 
Facing a 141-run deficit from the first innings,The President's X1 did not live up to expectations as the trio of Emmanuel Okwudili who was the best batsman for his side with 31 runs had the duo of Balogun Taiwo (13 runs) and Oluwaseun Odeku (12 runs) found it uncomfortable to cope with the bowling onslaught of BRFCC led by Sean Phillips and Varun Behani who reduced them to sixteen runs short of a century.
 
Having won the season opener BRFCC against star studded President's X1,The Club Cricket Committee League Champions can look back with pride on a successful year after winning both the Iris Smart Technology Club Cricket Committee League and GTAssur Twenty-Twenty competition unbeaten against surprise package Federal Government College Warri Old Boys Cricket Club and Former Champions Government College Ibadan Old Boys Cricket Club in the 2010/2011 Cricket season.
 
Captain Sean Phillips said: "I'm really pleased that we put up a sterling performance today despite missing some key players like Femi Solebo,Leke Oyede and some other youngsters but we have managed to complete what we set out to do. We've played really positive cricket out here.
 
"Our bowling and fielding has got better starting from our Ghana trip.We still need to practise more if there's any chance of retaining our trophy.
"The key players have really performed, people have taken responsibility and we have really good competition for places. That's a really good place to be.
The Coach/Player for Nigerian Cricket National Team however concluded by saying the 2011/2012 cricket season would be tough and interesting for the players and lovers of the Bowling and Batting game.
 
OPENING OF CRICKET SEASON IN BENIN CITY
 
The  2011/2012 cricket season ceremonial match held at the University of Benin cricket pitch on Saturday, November 5, organized by the Edo state cricket association was attended by massive 271 participants, including 121 students drawn from 8 schools within the state.
 
The ceremonial match was declared opening by President of the NCF and Chairman, Africa Cricket Association, Mr. Kwesi Sagoe and Mr. Bob Osaghae, who bowled to each other and also received bowling from Oviawe Ighagbon on behalf of  the players.
 
In the ceremonial match  the current champions of the Edo/Delta league, F16 cricket lost to the Edo state selected side by 5 wickets. F16 batted first scoring 47 runs all out, the fire power of Benjamin Anyia, Musa Ehizogie and Ayo Mene Ejegi ( 3 wickets each) was tough to handle. The Edo state selected side Scored 48 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the match which was reduced to 25 overs due to weather considerations.
 
The Students took part in a coaching clinic supervised by the National development manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Mr Ewa Henshaw who was also in attendance.
 
The spectators were thrilled by an all round display of cricket activity in lively carnival atmosphere to the admiration of the guests led by the President of the NCF and representative of the Vice Chancellor Uniben, Prof Anthony Okunbor who is also current board member of the the Nigeria Cricket federation.
 
 
 REPORT ON THE 2011/2012 OPENING OF CRICKET SEASON IN KADUNA
 
 Monday, November 7,the season was declared open by the representative of the Director of sports, Kaduna State, Mrs Christy Waju, ably supported by the Chairman of the Kaduna State Cricket Association (KSCA), Dr.Yahaya Ukwenya, first vice-chairman, Mr Dashna and second vice-chairman, Mr Enesi D Enesi.
 
A thrilling match between the catch them young team and the Kaduna XI was thereafter played. Kaduna XI won by 20 runs. The Young team gave the kaduna XI a big scare. The Kaduna XI captained by Enesi Jnr won the toss and elected to bat first. At the end of the first inning, kaduna XI amassed a total of 177 runs with two wickets at hand. Moses Joseph was the pick of kaduna XI batsmen with 40 runs. He was supported by Veteran Dr. Yahaya Ukwenya with 38 runs and Captain Enesi D Enesi with 33 runs. Kamal Lakhani and Dashna were helpful with 22 and 21 respectively.The pick of Catch them young bowlers is a thirteen year old Ameh Okpe with 3 wickets supported by Samson Simon with 2 wickets.

The catch them young team came in with determination to surpass the 177 posted by the Kaduna XI. At the end of the inning, the young team were all out for 157 runs in 29.3 overs. Top of young team batsmen was Dauda Danladi with 48 runs and Captain Godwin Onoja with 40 runs. The pick of Kaduna bowlers is Obinna Ohurogu with 4 wickets supported by Moses Joseph with 3 wickets and Enesi with 2 wickets.
 
Speaking after the game, the coach of the young team J.O.Onoja said he was impressed with the performance of his boys and said there was future Kaduna cricket. Enesi Jnr the Captain of Kaduna XI said his side used experience in defeating the young side and that he was impressed with the performance of the young side. The series continues on Tuesday November 8 2011.The young team had promised to beat the Kaduna XI.
J.O.Onoja
Regional Development officer, North.