TheCable

A win for Nigeria over Sierra Leone on Saturday will see the Junior Yellow Greens through to the 2020 Cricket World Cup.

After returning unscathed for the fourth straight time against Tanzania on Thursday with a whopping 151 runs, the sole World Cup ticket is for the cadet Nigerians to lose.

Riding on the spectacular form at the qualifier, the Nigerian team has dispatched host Namibia as well as top-rated Kenya and Uganda before dismissing Tanzania at the Wanderers Cricket ground in Windhoek.

Tanzania had won the toss and elected to field first thereby sending in Nigeria to bat for the 4th consecutive time in this tournament. Elijah Olaleye and Suleiman Runsewe opened the bating with a comfortable display of 97 runs partnership in 30.1 overs before Suleimon fell for 43 runs off 89 balls while Danladi Isaac also scored 31 runs of 40 balls.

Elijah Olaleye, who shone against Uganda, yet again produced a sublime display of bating prowess to hit 110 runs off 153 balls unbeaten in 50 overs.

Nigeria recorded its highest batting total in the tournament thus far with 211 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 50 overs.

In the second innings, the bowling attack of the Greens was too strong for the Tanzania team to contain with wickets falling at intervals. Captain Sylvester Okpe topped the onslaught with 4 wickets for 19 runs in 8.2 overs with an economy of 2.28 with Peter Aho coming to the party with 3 wickets, 3 maidens and conceded 7 runs with an economy of 0.87, while left handed seamer, Mohammed Taiwo, got with 2 wickets with Nigeria eventually restricting Tanzania to 60 runs all out in 27.2 overs.

Olaleye was named Man of the Match with his 110 runs out of 157 balls as Nigeria won by 151 runs.