Nigeria’s national cricket team, the Yellow Greens, in the early hours of Thursday, lost by five wickets to hosts UAE in their fourth Group B fixture in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi.
It was Nigeria’s fourth straight loss after losses to Jersey, Canada and Oman in their three previous games.
But despite the loss, Nigeria – debutants and the lowest-ranked team in the 14-nation tournament – set a tournament record with the duo of Sesan Adedeji and Chimezie Onwuzilike combining for the highest fourth-wicket stand in the competition so far.
Adedeji who had never reached double figures in T20 International cricket before today became the first Nigerian to score half a century in International T20 cricket while his partnership with Onwuzilike set the record for the highest Nigerian partnership in men’s T20 cricket.
UAE won the toss and elected to bowl first sending in Nigeria to bat. The top order batsmen again failing to take advantage of the power play saw Nigeria lose 3 wickets in the first 6 overs with a paltry score of 22 runs.
However, the record breaking partnership between Sesan Adedeji and Chimezie Onwuzilike lit up the stadium with 89 runs.
Chimezie fell short of his half ton ending on 46 runs but Sesan Adedeji would not be denied his half-century after hitting 51 runs off 48 balls, making him the first Nigerian player to hit a half-century in T-20 internationals.
Their partnership is the highest 4th wicket partnership recorded so far in the tournament.
Nigeria eventually finished for 111 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs.
In the second innings, UAE powered to a comfortable start losing their first wicket after 35 runs in just 4.5 overs.
Despite the fall of rapid wickets by the Nigerian bowlers, UAE maintained their momentum to record a total of 112 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 12.3 overs.
Zawar Farid hit 55 runs off 35 balls, supported by Mohammed Usman with 20 runs off 11 balls.
Sylvester Okpe got 2 wickets for 23 runs in 3 overs as the best performer with the ball for Nigeria.
The Yellow Greens take on Ireland next on the 26th of October 2019
