Wobbly start for Tanzania at ICC World League Division 5

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania made a wobbly start to the ICC World League Division 5, casting doubts over their ambition to win promotion to the upper division.

In a match that was reduced to 28-overs-a-side at St Martin, Nigeria rode on Ademola Onikoyi’s unbeaten 68 off 75 balls to complete a six-wicket win against the Tanzanian boys with 19 balls to spare.

Tanzania opted to bat first after winning the toss, but could only manage 115 for 8, with Kassim Nassoro top-scoring with 30.

Wickets fell in clumps, Sesan Adedeji causing the most trouble as he finished with figures of 3 for 14 in five overs.

Nassoro then struck twice in Tanzania’s chase, but Onikoyi remained unflustered and saw the side through. Nigeria scored 120runs in 24 overs.

The Nigerians tore the Tanzania batting order into shreds as Chimezie Onwuzilize and Okpe Issac started the onslaught.

Olympio Seye and Abiodun Abioye continued with impressive spells as Tanzania could only manage a total score of 115 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 28 overs.

In the second innings, Onikoyi Ademola and Olayinka Segun started from the front giving the Nigerians a comfortable start.

However, fall of 2 wickets provided a temporal scare, but the Grit and Class of Onikoyi and captain Kunle Adegbola steered the ship back on course and the Yellow Greens were able to provide a commanding display to record their first win in the tournament.

Tanzania skipper Hamis Abdallah told The Citizen that their spirits were not dampened after losing the opener, instead, the long-serving captain promised victories in their next matches.

“Our batting wasn’t good enough; we committed several mistakes, but I hope that we will bounce back and accomplish our mission,” he said.

The boys were in action last evening and had 108 runs for 9 wickets after 41.0 overs by press time.

In the previous event held in Malaysia, Tanzania narrowly escaped relegation to remain in the Division 5.