…Nigeria will face Oman in the 3rd fixture of their qualification campaign in the ongoing ICC T-20 world cup qualification in the UAE.
BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE LAGOS
Nigeria being debutants at this level and the least ranked team in this tournament endured painful defeats in their first 2 fixture against JERSEY and CANADA.
Having nothing to lose, the YELLOW GREENS had to settle for 115 runs chase after JERSEY scored 184 in the first match leaving them short of 69 runs.
The second match against CANADA was more of a contest as CANADA struggled in the middle stages of the game but a late cameo from HAMZA TARIQ who hit 33 runs off 16 balls and a priceless 57 runs from NITISH KUMAR, ensured they had a healthy runs on the board to defend after recording 168 runs in 20 overs.
NIGERIA finished on 108 runs losing by 50 runs
Nigeria were quite unfortunate losing 2 wickets in the second over but CHIMEZIE ONWUZILIKE and SULEIMOM RUNSEWE gave Nigeria a chance with a 60 runs partnership in 9 overs.
CAPTAIN ONIKOYI ADEMOLA lost his wicket being run out and some other players not being able to contribute only meant that Nigeria left too much to do in this format of this game that is a respecter of no man.
Reacting after the match, ADEMOLA ONIKOYI described the game as a difficult pill to swallow as he felt his team had a chance to win.
Missed run out chances and dropped catches were part of the reasons he highlighted to have given CANADA the game.
“When you don’t take your chances when it comes, you will most likely pay dearly for it and that is what happened to us. Canada did not let us off the hook and took their chances quite brilliantly, but we can only learn from the games and move on” he said.
The Captain also appreciated the spirited effort from his team mates.
Coach of the team MR CLIVE OGBIMI, said he is disappointed with the results but pleased with the progress of the team with lots of positives to be taken from the 2 games thus far.
However he believes his team will continue to improve and hopefully get back to winning ways as they prepare for OMAN.
“No time to dwell on the games, we have to go back into the nets and correct some of the mistakes we have observed on the field, he further highlighted that the mood in the dressing room is very positive and the boys will be a much better side when they face Oman on Wednesday “ OGBEMI said.
