Cricket: Nigeria Gets Off to a Losing Start in Malaysia

Nigeria lost their opening match of the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) Division 5 to winners of the 2013 ICC WCL D6, Jersey, on Thursday in Malaysia.

The Nigerian cricketers lost by 60 runs at the Bayeumas Oval as the bats prowess of Segun Olayinka and Dotun Olatunji and the bowling feat of Joshua Ogunola couldn’t withstand the all-round performances of Peter Gough and Ben Stevens.

Nigeria elected to bowl first after winning the toss but Jersey’s opening pair of batsmen in Nathaniel Watkins and Gough immediately put on 52 before Watkins was out lbw in the 11th over. Gough and Stevens then put on 76 for the second wicket, although their partnership was cut short when Stevens was out for 49.

A Nigerian Batsman in Action.
A Nigerian Batsman in Action.

Gough stayed in to score 66, whilst Jersey went on to score 238-5 from their 50 overs.

Ogunlola was the pick of the Nigerian bowlers with 3-46.

Olayinka and Olatunji were the only batsmen to score over 20, making 29 and 37 respectively.

Ben Stevens was the pick of the Jersey bowlers with 3-16, with Peter Gough taking 2-14 as Nigeria were bowled out for 175.

Jersey hosts Tanzania today, while Nigeria hosts Guernsey Island.