Venue: Farmers field, St Martin
Date: Thursday, 25th July 2013
Toss: Won by Bahrain
Match Type: 50 Overs
Result: Nigeria won by 8 wicket
Umpires: H Jansen, DN Subedi
3rd: H Kearns
Referee: D.J. Jukes
Scorers: KC Nisbet, D.S Livingston
Weather: Sunny spells
Nigeria Bounce Back with a commanding performance and a commanding victory
It was a must-win game and the boys responded with a magnificent performance. After a shattering and humbling loss to Jersey, Nigeria needed a big victory to get her campaign back on course and they did just that. We did what we had to do. To win and win well against Bahrain was a task that had to be done.
Nigeria for the first time in WCL campaign entered a match as an odds-on favorite to win. Let it not be forgotten that Bahrain had played in Division 5 and ranked higher than Nigeria.
Bahrain winning the toss chose to bat. Nigeria made one change to their side. Out – of form opening batsman Ademola Onikoyi was dropped for Endurance Ofem. Nigeria struck when speedster Saheed with the score on 2. Akolade Struck two more times to reduce Bahrain to 3 for 14. The Nigeria bowlers stuck to their line and length and gave nothing away. Seye Olympio took 3 for 23 in 10 overs with a maiden. Adegbola and Oyede bowled miserly spells which kept the pressure on the Bahrain batsmen.
The Bahrain innings folded at 104 runs all out in 33 overs. The tormentor-in-chief was Saheed Akolade who returned impressive figures of 8 overs, 2 maidens, 27 runs and 6 wickets.
Nigeria began their chase with Endurance Ofem and Segun Olayinka. They both opted for the patient approach and slow scoring, no doubt acutely aware of the batting collapse against Jersey. Ofem scored 30 runs of 69 balls before being trapped LBW. Olympio came and went quickly. Meanwhile, the mainstay of our batting Segun Olayinka was busy accumulating runs at the other end. He got his fifty with a six that ended a match. Nigeria scored 106 runs for 2 wickets in 28.1 overs.
Man-of-the-Match
Saheed Akolade’s pace and bounce tormented the Bahrain batsmen and returned figures of 6 wickets for 27 runs in 8 overs. Akolade was also named the official man – of – the – match.
Other outstanding Performances
Segun Olayinka’s unbeaten half-century i.e. 50 run n.o. he moved from 44 runs to 50 runs with a magnificent six over square-leg in what turned out to be the last ball of the match.
Oluseye Olympio
His bowling figures of 10 overs, 2 maidens, 27 runs, 3 wickets were impressive. He provided able support or Akolade and kept up the pressure on the batsmen. He also took 2 catches.
