By Jacob Ajom
Nigeria’s Junior Yellow Greens have strengthened their push for a return to Division One of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup pathway with a commanding seven-wicket victory over hosts Rwanda in their third league match of the ongoing ICC U19 Men’s World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2.
Playing at the Gahanga Main Oval in Kigali, Nigeria produced a disciplined all-round performance, dismissing Rwanda for 79 runs in 23.1 overs before chasing down the target with 84 for three in 15.2 overs.
The result keeps the Junior YellowGreens firmly in contention, with two matches remaining in the qualification campaign.
Nigeria’s victory was built on an impressive bowling display that kept the hosts under sustained pressure throughout their innings.
Emmanuel Oladejo led the attack with an outstanding spell of 3/9 from five overs, including two maidens, while Abdullahi Ismail also claimed three wickets for 19 runs from seven overs. Keneth Boniface completed the three-wicket haul with 3/22 from six overs, including two maidens.
Rwanda struggled to establish partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 79, with Nigeria’s bowlers striking at regular intervals.
Captain Ali Rahmon, while pleased with the bowling effort, acknowledged that the team could have been more disciplined with the ball.
“We did a very good job restricting them to 80 runs all out, but I feel we should have done a bit better because we bowled a lot of extras in the first 10 overs. Maybe 60 or 50 runs would have been good.”
His assessment underlines the team’s focus on continuous improvement as the qualification race enters its decisive stage.
Chasing 80 for victory, the Junior YellowGreens made a confident start through captain Ali Rahmon and Hossana Omonkhobhio, who combined for a crucial 46-run opening partnership.
Rahmon scored 24 from 38 balls, hitting three boundaries, while Omonkhobhio contributed 18 from 19 deliveries, including three fours and a six. The partnership was broken at 46 in the ninth over, but by then Nigeria had established a strong foundation for the chase.
Their partnership allowed the side to control the tempo of the chase and ensured the team remained firmly ahead of the required rate.
After the opening stand, Peculiar Egemasi continued the momentum with an unbeaten 19 from 20 balls, while Boniface provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 7 from five deliveries, including a six. Nigeria completed the chase in just 15.2 overs.
Keneth Boniface, whose all-round contribution earned him the Player of the Match award, played a key role with the ball, taking three wickets for 22 runs, before returning to the crease to finish the run chase in emphatic fashion.
But for Boniface, his contribution was not only about wickets and runs. Speaking after the match, he highlighted the importance of communication and keeping teammates encouraged during moments of pressure.
“If they are down, mostly the pressure will be up, so talk to them. Whether we miss or any bad thing, we have to talk to them and encourage them. That’s the main thing.”
The comments reflect the growing maturity within a young Nigerian side aware that qualification will require more than individual performances.
With three matches completed, and the Junior YellowGreens remain third on the log with 4 points and a 1.531 net run rate, with two matches against Mozambique U19 and Sierra Leone U19 still to come.
The victory over Rwanda provides Nigeria with valuable momentum as the team continues its pursuit of a return to Division One.
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