BY Afolabi Gambari
South-South teenage player, Piety Lucky, was the star attraction of the National Finals of the Girls Under-17 Cricket Championship, leading her team to victory in the event held at the Edo Boys High School Cricket Oval, Benin City on Sunday.
After Lucky’s record-breaking century at the opening game against South West on Wednesday, she became the first Nigerian to achieve such feat in a T-20 match where she left no one in doubt of her commanding performance.
Uyi Akpata, Vice President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, said the NCF was more impressed by the individual talents discovered at the championship beyond the performance of the South-South team which he also described as excellent.
“I think it is a great feat for a teenager to set a national T-20 record and it is a huge leap for the development of cricket in Nigeria. We also had great fielding implementation from the South East team and great bowling actions from a few players as well,” Akpata said.
“Performances from these girls justify the investment in various grassroots developments at different regions of the country and more importantly, we now have great players that can be drafted into camp ahead of national assignments,” he also said.
Lucky was awarded the best ‘batman’ and most valuable player of the girls championship, while Rejoice Assam was voted the Bowler of the series and Henrietta Uba emerged as the best Fielder.
Esewi Peter, coach of the winning side, described the victory as a product of the hard work from his region’s team.
“My team is made of players from Edo, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states. I want to also give credit to all the regional developmental officers that worked on each of the players,” Peter said.
Meanwhile, the teenage sensation Lucky Piety, who expressed gratitude for the accolades she won at the competition but admitted that there were other equally talented batters and bowlers in her team.
“I am very happy at the level of talent we have in the team and this means we would go a long way,” she said.
North Central’s team finished second behind South-South after losing in the finals by seven wickets. The South East came third while the classification match for the fourth and fifth team was won by the South West who dislodged the North West team.
The Boys’ final of the national Under-17 cricket championship will hold from February 4 to 7 at the Edo Boys High School Cricket Pitch in Benin City.
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