The Nigerian Cricket team at the WCL Africa 2 tournament in Benoni, South Africa
pulled off a remarkable 13-run victory over 2nd-ranked Mozambique earlier today
to put itself in a good position to go up if it beats neighbor Ghana in its last match
tomorrow.
The Nigerian team won the toss and opted to bat losing wickets sporadically in
achieving a meagre total of 105 runs all outin 40.3 overs with only Segun Olayinka(17),
Dolapo Gafar(19), Wale Adeoye(15) and Joshua Ogunlola(11) getting to double
figures.
The heads of most Nigerian cricket enthusiasts who had been following the match
from text messages sent from the venue of the match sank when they heard the
score of the team. How do we defend 105 one enthusiast asked!
The Nigerian team however had other ideas and entered the field in defense of the
low target and the arduous task of attempting the ambitious Mozambican side.
From 10 runs for 2 wickets in 7 overs to 33 runs for 2 at lunchtime. Then to 51 runs
for 4 wickets in 16 overs; and 86 for 8 in 24; then 92 for 9 in 25 and finally the last
wicket fell at 92!
Nigeria had pulled the chestnut out of the fire and stunned the Mozambican side!
Joshua Ogunlola who shared the last wicket partnership that enabled the country
retain the trophy along with Haruna Thomas last April was again at the centre of
action claiming 5 wickets for 15 runs in 8 overs in a spell of inspired bowling and
must surely pick up the man-of-the-match award along with his 11 runs.
He was supported by his skipper, Wale adeoye who finished with 2 for 39 in 10
overs and Seye Olympio with 1 for 15 in 5 overs!
This Nigerian team has once again proven that it can survive the challenges thrown
at it with the exception of the loss to Botswana winning three out of four matches
and carries the hopes of all Nigerian cricket supporters into its last match with
Ghana tomorrow.
Victory will take Nigeria into a new vista of the global World Cricket League(WCL).
