By Ijeoma Okigbo

Nigeria Women’s Senior Cricket Team on Wednesday defeated her Ugandan counterpart by 5 runs at the ongoing Kwibuka Women’s Cricket Tournament in Rwanda, Kigali.

The low-run scoring thriller had fans on their feet as Nigeria snatched victory from the defending champions, halting their win streak after six games in a row.

Uganda won the toss and opted to field at the Gahanga A oval, while all-rounder Kehinde Amusa again had one of the best performances with the bat- 33 runs of 54 balls.

Amusa was closely supported by Salome Sunday with 14 runs off 25 balls as the rest of the Nigerian batting line up were unable to make major contributions with the bat.

Nigeria was restricted to 73/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

In the second innings, Uganda looked to chase the score relatively comfortably, till the death overs as the Nigerian bowlers began tightening the screw.

With two overs to go, Uganda needed 6 runs in 12 balls with four wickets in hand.

Nigeria’s Lilan Ude was handed the ball in the penultimate over and she delivered a maiden wicket, swinging the pendulum back to her team’s favour.

The last over saw Anointed Akhigbe pick three wickets in the last over to bowl out Uganda for 68 runs. Nigeria won by 5 runs.

After the game, Favour Eseigbe, captain of the Nigerian team, said the team had to follow through their game plan.

“We had a low total to defend and at some point the game was slipping through our hands and I told my players that `he who is down should not be afraid of falling’.

“So, we decided to apply ourselves more in the game, stick to the basics as we had nothing to lose and the result turned out in our favour,’’ Eseigbe noted.

On her part, Janet Mbabazi, captain of the Ugandan side, commended the Nigerian spirit, adding that they would return stronger.

“I felt it was a target we could chase, but it is a game and sometimes, things do not work in your favour. So, I congratulate Nigeria. We will be back stronger,’ Mbabazi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament, in its 11^th edition with nine teams participating, is in commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz