TheCable

Nigeria women’s cricket team began its ICC T20 Women’s World Cup qualification campaign on Thursday with a five-wicket victory over Sierra Leone in Gaborone, Botswana.

Sierra Leone had won the toss and was elected to bat first in the opener of the group B encounter at the ICC T20 qualifying event.

Nigeria’s Abdulquadri Taiwo and Efosa Joy bowled decently with the latter getting the 1st wicket in the 4th over and a maiden leaving Sierra Leone on 14 runs.

Sierra Leone ended the 1st power play over on 27 runs for the loss of 1 wicket, eventually finishing for 102 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.

Taiwo and Joy got 2 wickets each while Etim Blessing, Samson Rachael and George Chinyenum snagged 1 wicket apiece.

Kamara Aminata of Sierra Leone scored 28 runs as the best bating figure for her team.

In the second innings, Nigeria started brightly with the pair of Esther Sandy and Abdulquadri Kehinde getting to 21 runs before losing the 1st wicket.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Salome Sunday was unlucky and was dismissed almost immediately.

Nigeria finished the power play over with 34 runs for the loss of 2 wickets.

Sandy, Etim and Omoye Asika controlled the game from thereon to ensure Nigeria sat firmly on 65 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 10 overs.

Nigeria eventually chased down the required score to record 103 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 16 overs.

Etim got a top score with 27 runs and was strongly supported by Sandy and Asika with 17 runs each.

Kehinde also scored 11 runs to round off a very comfortable victory for Nigeria.

Highlight of the game includes a memorable debut for Lucky Piety, who started for Nigeria at 14 — making her the youngest female player to achieve the feat in the country.

Piety eventually finished with 11 runs off 9 balls not out.