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LAGOS STATE CRICKET TEAM WINS GOLD AT NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL FINAL MATCH | (2009-03-02 )

LAGOS STATE CRICKET TEAM WINS GOLD

The Lagos State Cricket Team regained its lost glory by winning the Gold Medal at the recently concluded 16^TH National Sports Festival, Kaduna 2009.

The youthful and focused team, captained by Austin Areghan defeated the defending champion, Ogun State Cricket Team by 30 runs in an intensively contested final played at the Crocodile Cricket Club pitch, on Sunday, February 22. 2009.

Lagos State won the toss and elected to bat first, amassing 197 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 30 overs. Olayemi Amusa and Olugbon Olympio opened the batting and built up the foundation for the impressive team total of 197. Olayemi Amusa played a disciplined innings as he scored 50 runs in 54 balls. The middle order batsmen exploded in the last twelve overs to up the run-rate. Seye Olympio scored 29 runs in 15 balls and dispatched two big sixes over the bowler. Tamuno John scored 29 runs in 15 balls while Osita Onwuzulike scored 24 runs in 11 balls.

Oguntoke.E. of Ogun State was the highest wicket taker with 5 wickets in his kitty, conceded 39 runs in 5 overs bowled.

What looked like an easy match for Lagos State team soon turned to a big task as the defending champion refused to go down without a big fight. They commenced their innings on a very positive note as they maintained an average of 6 runs per over, thus chasing steadily, the total of 197 earlier posted by Lagos. Rotimi Adesanya played an impressive innings, scoring 61 runs in 49 balls. He was supported by Oguntoke. E. with 22 runs in 21 balls.

The double prong attack off-spin bowling by Osita Onwuzilike and John Tamuno put a stop to the run chase of Ogun State as the two spin bowlers took 3 wickets each, thus ending the innings of Ogun State on 167 runs.

Lagos, on the way to the final had earlier defeated Ogun, Kano, Delta, Kano, Rivers and Anambra State.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Cricket team, George Wiltshire who witnessed his team play one of the best matches of the tournament congratulated them for a well deserved victory. He said that the team prepared very well and was handled by a very competent and experienced coaching crew. He commended his boys for their tenacity of purpose, sacrifice and dedication. He concluded that they are going to commence in earnest, preparation for the 17^th National Sports Festival taking place in Rivers State in 2010 as the Lagos State Cricket team is now the team to beat and they have vowed to retain their dominance in cricket.