It has been an unforgettable experience for Ghana’s senior national women’s cricket team at the 3rd edition of the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s Women’s T20 International, as they lost their 4th match against host on Friday, March 31, 2023.
Ghana, having lost to Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Cameron for the first three (3) days of the tournament returned to the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Oval to face host Nigeria in a crunchy morning encounter.
Ghana elected to field first after winning toss which paved way for Nigeria to score 120/5 in the first innings.
Emmanuella Nyaaba had a maiden in the 2nd over as she took turns with Komalpreet and Cynthia, but Nigeria kept going and were 23/0 in 5 overs, before Kate Awuah’s 3rd ball in the in the 8th over got the first wicket (Igbobie Abigail), caught at Short point by Elizabeth Annor.
Komal finally got a wicket in the 18th over, getting to the end of the game after Kate Awuah had grabbed her second, while Nigeria stood at 105/5.
Ghana had to push for 1 run per ball with few boundaries, but that could not materialize as magical Samson Rachael, who won Player of the match in last year’s edition of the tournament, won again this time, taking 4.0-0-18-4.
With different openers, the batting line up also changed a bit but Nigeria didn’t allow any partnership to break through their score, keeping Ghana at 58/8, while Nigeria won by 62 runs.
The win becomes Nigeria’s 3rd over Ghana and 3rd in the 3rd edition of the tournament, keeping them 2nd with 6 points behind defending Champions Rwanda, who beat Cameroon by 126 runs later in the day.
Ghana remains bottom with no point and can’t make it to the play off. The team in an effort to advance in performance in last year’s 4th position could not materialize as the ‘Statement’ they promised making became difficult to achieve.
The performance of Ghana leaves a lot, wondering what is happening in the development of the game, but it has been a good effort by the team, who have huge chances of hoisting and lifting the flag of Ghana higher.
Last year, Ghana were able to beat Gambia to make it to the 3rd place play off which they eventually lost to Sierra Leone, after losing 3 out of the 4 single round robin matches to Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
The team is however expected back to the country on Monday, April 3, 2023
The Ghana Cricket Association is however appreciative of the sponsorship by Price Water House Coopers (PwC), Underground Mining Alliance, ALKAPLUS mineral water and other benevolent individuals.
By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey
