Zimpapers Sport
THE Zimbabwe Under-25 cricket side beat Nigeria by 10 wickets, with four overs to spare, in a Group B match yesterday to set-up a semi-final date with Kenya in the African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Kenya finished second in Group A behind Uganda, who will face the runners-up from Zimbabwe’s group.
Openers Rodney Mupfudza (39 off 54 balls) and Tadiwa Marumani (47 from 44 balls) took Zimbabwe to 91/0 for an easy victory.
Nigeria elected to bat first and were bundled out for 88 in 17.4 overs with Owen Muzondo taking three wickets for 11 in four overs.
There were two wickets each for Tashinga Musekiwa (2-22 in four overs), Trevor Gwandu (2-10 in 2.4 overs) and Takudzwa Chataira (2-16 in two overs).
Two partnerships of 20 runs were the highlight of the Nigeria innings.
Opener and wicketkeeper Sulaimon Runsewe took Nigeria from 12/1 to 32/1 in 3.2 overs together with Isaac Danladi, who retired hurt, and Sesan Adedeji.
Captain Sylvester Okpe and topscorer Vincent Adewoye put 20 for the sixth wicket as Nigeria moved fron 56/5 to 76/6 with the fall of Okpe.
Adewoye made 19 not out from 15 balls followed by Danladi (15 from nine), Runsewe (13 from 22) and Okpe (12 from 24) while there were 12 extras from the Zimbabwe bowlers.