Venue: Les Quennvais Pitch St. Brelade
Date: Sunday 21st July 2013
Toss: Won by Vanuatu
Match Type: 50 Overs
Result: Nigeria won by 6 runs
Umpires: M.A Din. DN Subedi
3rd umpire: AJ Neill
Referee: DT Jukes
Scorers: KC Nisbet, C Sunderland
Weather: Sunny and hot
NIGERIA WIN A CLIFF – HANGER
By Olisa Egwuatu (Eye-Witness Account)
The match had everything; tension, nerves, excitement, drama and a photo finish. Nigeria held her nerves and maintained a cool head to scrape through. The Nigeria lads fought to the last man, played through the pressure, displayed guts and crossed the finishing line. It was a gritty affair and our boys applied themselves to win this all-important match. Our 6-runs victory was a defining moment in our Jersey campaign. It was a match we had to win and our experiences in Cheltenham where we survived mini-collapses against Brockhampton and Herefordshire came into play. Vanuatu won the toss and inserted us in and Segun Olayinka was in an explosive mood hitting three huge sixes. Onikoyi was trapped LBW by Nipiko for 5 after facing 27 balls. Olayinka went on to score 34 runs in 29 balls. All the batsmen except Sharma were in double figures and we batted down the order.
Okwudili (17) runs, Olatunji (31) runs Adegbola (44) runs, Bejide (23) runs, Oyede (20) runs Onwuzulike (17) runs, Olympio (8) runs, Akolade (4) runs not out.
Our innings folded at 230 runs all out in 49.2 overs and our batsmen spent 199 minutes at the crease. We faced 298 balls.
It was a collective effort from all the batsmen as we batted sensibly and responsibly to post a competitive total against a very good side. Our innings contained 15 fours and five sixes. We began our defence of our total brightly with Olympio bowling danger main T Langa for 14. Vanuatu was on the back foot at 3 for 53 in 18 overs.
When Nipiko was trapped by Oyede, Vanuatu was on the backfoot at 79 for 4. Then the war of attrition began. The pair of Mansale and Kalworai mounted a rearguard action by chipping away at our total. With this pair at the crease the match was even-Stephens until the combination of Akolade and Sharma ran out, captain Mansule for 58 runs. He had faced 89 balls and cracked 5 fours in his account.
It was 5 for 179 and there was still another headache for Nigeria in the person of Kalworai. When the sixth wicket of Kalworani fell for 61 runs caught Okwudili bowled Akolade, Vanuatu had scored 203 runs and the momentum was clearly with Vanuatu.
Captain Kunle Adegbola came into his own. He rallied his troops and demanded extra efforts from the boys. With victory looming, our boys took their ground fielding to unbelievable heights. Olatunji the vice-captain was called upon at a crucial time and he delivered a perfect lover. A 203 for 8 Akolade delivered a crucial over from the football end. It was left to Leke Oyede to bowl the last over and the celebrations truly began. It was a victory gained with blood and sweat and was a massive confidence-booster. We beat a tough side who pushed us all the way.
Our victory over Vanuatu, particularly the manner in which we won, convinced us that we are in, with a chance to win the championship if we maintain this level of technical, tactical and mental discipline.
Man of the match Personal verdict
Kunle Adegbola’s all-round performance won my man of the match award. He came to the crease when we were 96 runs for the loss of 4 wickets, and our innings needing solidity and momentum. When he was the eighth man out, he had scored 44 runs, faced 88 balls, hit 2 fours and spent 92 minutes at the crease. At his demise, Nigeria has scored 202 runs.
He bowled 10 overs and conceded 39 runs win with 1 maiden
