The Whales Cricket Club of Port Harcourt emerged the winner of the South-East zonal

play-offs of the National Cricket Club Championship in the series played at Owerri in Imo

State.

 

In a round-robin series involving Whales CC, Unity Cricket Club of Awka and the host club

representing Imo State. The series was played over 35 overs.

 

In the first match of the series, Whales CC defeated Unity CC by 6 wickets in what turned

out to be a one-sided encounter. Unity CC were all out for 47 runs in 21 out of their allotted

35 overs with A. Adegbola with 2 for 3 in 7 overs; T. Timinadi 3 for 6 in 6 overs and G. Izulu

4 for 4 in 4 overs causing the destruction for the Whales.

 

Whales responded with 52 runs for the loss of 4 wickets with N. Idika notching 26 runs for his

side out of the total.

 

C. Obasi of Unity CC was a threat however with his 2 wickets for 14 runs in 3 overs.  

 

In the next match between Unity CC and the Imo State representative Club, Unity CC triumphed

with a 13 run victory. Unity Club batted first and notched up 139 runs all out in 35 overs with

C. Chiweze scoring 25 runs for his team.

 

The Imo State bowlers that had success were S. Njoku with 4 wickets for 26 runs in 7 overs and

T. Ajaelu with 2 for 12 in 7 overs.  

 

The Imo team batting second was all out for 126 runs in 33 overs with Udoka scoring 41.

 

C. Obasi with 4 for 16 in 7 overs and Ikemefuna with 2 for 9 in 6 overs were in fine bowling form

for Unity Club.

 

In the third and final match, Whales CC defeated the Imo representative Club by 18 runs

to clinch the finals spot.

 

Batting first, Whales scored 153 runs for 7 wickets in their allotted 35 overs with Adegbola getting

54 runs while T. Timinadi supported with 24.

 

Imo Club bowlers who showed good spell with the ball were Onwubiko with 2 for 27 in 7 overs and

2 for 10 in 7 overs.

 

Imo Club responded with 135 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their innings thereby falling short by 18 runs.

T. Ajaelu with 40 and S. Njoku with 23 were the stars with the bat for their team.

 

Adegbola with 2 for 9 in 7 overs and S. Njoku with 2 for 19 in 7 overs were the star bowlers for the

Whales.

 

Whales CC thus joins Abuja CC, Integrity Force CC and Ibeju Lekki CC in the final stages of the tournament

scheduled for the 27th to the 29th June, 2008.

 

Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club (ILCC) replaces Lagos Asians Cricket Club (LACC) as the CCC League representative

with the pull-out of LACC due to vacation commitments of its players.