Nigeria rebounds, beat South Africa to qualify for NCF Women’s T20i Invitational Tournament semifinals

Nigeria had reasons to smile again on Wednesday at the ongoing NCF Women’s T20i Invitational Tournament after their chastening defeat by Rwanda on Tuesday at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval, Lagos.
Many supporters of the Nigerian girls were disappointed by the manner Rwanda beat the female Yellow Greens in a game that put a dent on their ambition of retaining the title, but yesterday the team showed that they are still one to be reckoned with a masterful defeat of highly rated South Africa in the tournament christened ‘Patricia Kambarami Cup.’
With both teams recording a loss in the tournament already, it was clear that a victory for either team would re-establish belief and confidence going forward.
South Africa Women’s U-19 won the toss and elected to bat first, but Nigeria had a dream start when Ashley Bernard was dismissed off the last ball in the first over with South Africa recording no runs. Jeze Campher was the next to depart in 3.4 overs, contributing just one run.
After four overs, South Africa had two runs on the board for the loss of two wickets. At the end of the power play of six overs, South Africa were on 18 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Captain Mieke Van Voorst took the game back to Nigeria, unbeaten at 23 runs off 19 balls which helped South Africa to reach 42 runs after 10 overs.
The South Africans grew into the game as Van Voorst played a captain’s innings, scoring 69 runs off 47 balls to get her team to a respectable total of 133 Runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Siphokuhle Masilela had a late charge of 20 runs off 15 balls, and Jae Leigh Filander with 16 runs off 21 balls as the best batting contribution for Team South Africa Women’s U-19.
Nigeria responded in the second innings with the opening pair of Amusa Kehinde and Christabel Chukuonye starting slowly and perhaps playing with the handbrakes on. Amusa was dismissed in the fourth overs after contributing just nine runs off 12 balls with Nigeria on 13 runs.
The game continued in like manners till midway into the innings with Nigeria on 47 runs still for the loss of one wicket. Christabel was on 13 runs off 25 balls and Eguakun Omosigho on 16 runs off 23.
Still on the front foot, South Africa dismissed Eguakun Omosigho for 18 runs off 28 balls to introduce captain Lucky Piety. And like a leader on a mission, Piety took matters into her own hands and beyond a captain’s innings, she rescued her team from collapse to force a super over after hitting an outstanding 66 runs off 35 balls including a 24-run over.
Christabel Chukuonye played the night watchman till she was retired out for 26 runs off 43 balls.
Nigeria continued the super over with Piety and Salome. The hosts managed just 10 runs in the super over but were able to restrict the South Africans to nine runs to emerge victorious in what would be considered as the closest and most entertaining match of the tournament so far.
Lucky Piety was named player of the tournament
In the second game of the day, Ghana continued their freefall when they succumbed to Zimbabwe’s U-19 team.
The Southern Africans won the toss and elected to bat first. Straight into the action, opening pair of Nicollete Nyika and Beloved Biza struck boundaries after every other ball and soon Zimbabwe were 52 runs after 4.2 overs, losing the wicket of Nicolette Nyika, who scored 20 runs off 12 balls.
Beloved Biza continued to strike the ball like a woman on a mission which eventually paid off as Ghana offered no resistance. Ghana managed a second wicket of Christina Mutasa in the 12th over, who scored 29 runs off 27 balls.
Beloved eventually finished with 102 runs not out off 52 balls, strongly supported by Lorraine Pemhiwa, who also finished unbeaten with 60 runs off 32 balls.
In the second innings, Zimbabwe U-19 Women’s U-19 made light work of their defense as they restricted Ghana to a meagre total of 45 runs all out in 18.3 overs.
Salem Museka got four wickets, conceding eight runs in four overs, strongly supported by Beloved Biza with three wickets, conceding 10 runs in four overs.
Beloved Biza was named player of the match as the Zimbabweans won by 180 runs.
The teams will observe a free day today and resume with the semifinals tomorrow.