The defending champion of the Boys PwC U-17 National Cricket Championship started its campaign to retain the title at the NCF Cricket pitch, Abuja with 62 runs victory over south-east with an 88 first innings run by the a south eastern team and running the south-south team out at 21.1 overs.
“It was a tough first inning for us but we knew we had to bring out the best in us to get the result, we need,” coach of the south-south team, Theophilus Ibodeme, said.
By second inning, the south-south bowlers came down on the easterners with both Prosper Useni knocking down five wickets, while Reigneth Osagie took two and the duo of Joshua Asia and Samuel Victor had one apiece.
The match ended at 10.4 overs with the Technical Director of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Joseph Eshua, commending the bowling prowess of both teams, although he faulted their batting prowess.
“I am impressed with the level of play here but we are not low on the amount of talent on display,“ Eshua said.
The technical director said that the federation would track the players’ performances with a view to making the scouted form the bulk of the Under-19 players to represent Nigeria when the World Cup qualifiers get underway.
The 3rd PwC National Under 17 Championship, running at the NCF Cricket Pitch of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, started February 16 and will end on the 20th .