A star-studded Edo State women’s cricket team capped off a sizzling run at the 2024 Nigeria Cricket Federation’s National Women’s Championship by beating Akwa Ibom by 89 runs to emerge winners at the MKO Abiola Cricket Oval in Abuja on Sunday.
Right-arm medium bowler Peace Usen was the player of the match of the encounter, following her five wickets in four overs, conceding only six runs and one maiden.
Female Yellow Greens captain, Favour Eseigbe, who led Edo State, said she is proud of the team’s achievement and all members gave their best for them to emerge as champions.
“We have a compact team, and I’m proud of what we have achieved,” Eseigbe said after the victory.
Akwa Ibom had won the toss and elected to field, but the Edo women’s batting prowess couldn’t be contained.
Igbinedion Victory led the runs chase with 40 from 54 balls. Piety Lucky contributed 36 from 23 balls, and Annointed Akhigbe added 12 from 18 balls as the first inning ended with 128 runs by the Edo team.
The second inning was a cakewalk for the inspired Edo team, who saw off all of Akwa Ibom batters in 12 overs with a paltry 39 runs to show.
NCF president, Uyi Akpata, said that the 2024 National Women’s Championship has confirmed what concerted effort in growing women’s sports can produce, as the Women Criiio was also launched during the tourney.
“It’s been seven days of quality cricket and a showcase of cricket skills by girls from all six geopolitical zones of the country. We had Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, and Edo States.
“We are turbocharging our girl child, including in sports, and laying a solid foundation for the future of cricket and the Nigerian girls.”
Women’s cricket in Nigeria has risen prominently in 2024, from the Female Yellow Greens winning a bronze medal at the 2023 African Games, which were played in Ghana in March, to the Junior Female Yellow Greens booking a spot at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia.
