….sesan adedeji and chimezie onwuzilike finished 4th wicket partnership of 89 runs in the 1st innings.
BY ADEYEMI ROBINSON-ADEFIOYE LAGOS
Nigeria faced host UAE in the 4th fixture of the group B encounter in the on-going ICC T-20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER in ABU DHABI in the early hours of Thursday morning.
UAE won the toss and elected to bowl first sending in Nigeria to bat. The top order batsmen again failing to take advantage of the power play over saw Nigeria lose 3 wickets in the first 6 overs with a palsy score of 22 runs. However, the record breaking partnership between SESAN ADEDEJI and CHIMEZIE ONWUZILIKE lit up the stadium with 89 runs.
CHIMEZIE fell short of his half ton ending on 46 runs but SESAN ADEDEJI will not be denied his half-century after hitting 51 runs off 48 balls, making him the first Nigerian player to hit a half century in T-20 internationals.
The pair also highlights as the highest 4th wicket partnership in the tournament so far.
Nigeria eventually finished for 111 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, UAE powered to a comfortable start losing their first wicket after 35 runs in just 4.5 overs.
Despite the fall of rapid wickets by the Nigerian bowlers, UAE maintained their momentum to record a total of 112 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 12.3 overs.
ZAWAR FARID hit 55 runs off 35 balls, supported by MOHAMMED USMAN with 20 runs off 11 balls.
SYLVESTER OKPE got 2 wickets for 23 runs in 3 overs as the best performer with the ball for Nigeria.
UAE won by 5 wickets.
Nigeria will relish a chance against Ireland on the 26th of October 2019
