Junior Yellow Greens strength World Cup ticket push

Nigeria's Junior Yellow Greens have bolstered their chances of returning to Division One of the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup pathway with a dominant seven-wicket win over hosts Rwanda in the third match of the Division 2 qualifiers. The Division 2 qualifiers are currently taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

At the Gahanga Main Oval, the Junior Yellow Greens put on an impressive all-round performance, dismissing Rwanda for a paltry 79 runs in just 23.1 overs. The Nigerian team then chased down the target with ease, amassing 84 for three in 15.2 overs. This victory keeps the Junior Yellow Greens in contention for the coveted Division One spot, with two matches remaining in the qualification campaign.

Nigeria's impressive bowling performance was led by Emmanuel Oladejo, who took an outstanding three wickets for 9 runs from five overs. Abdullahi Ismail and Keneth Boniface also contributed significantly, claiming two wickets each. Rwanda struggled to build partnerships and were ultimately bowled out for 79, with the Junior Yellow Greens striking at regular intervals.

Captain Ali Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the bowling effort but felt that the team could have been more disciplined with the ball. The Chawinga sisters, who made their debuts in this match, provided a solid start for the Junior Yellow Greens, combining for a crucial 46-run opening partnership. Rahmon scored 24 from 38 balls, while Omonkhobhio contributed 18 from 19 deliveries.

Nigeria successfully chased down the target in just 15.2 overs, with Peculiar Egemasi and Boniface playing crucial roles in the chase. Boniface, who earned the Player of the Match award, played a key role with both bat and ball, taking three wickets for 22 runs before finishing the chase with an unbeaten 7 from five deliveries.

With three matches completed, the Junior Yellow Greens currently stand third on the log with four points and a respectable net run rate of 1.531. They still have two matches against Mozambique U-19 and Sierra Leone U-19 to come, keeping their hopes of a Division One return alive.