By Akanimo Kufre
After three days of grueling cricket actions at Edo Boys High School,
Benin City, the contenders were sorted from the pretenders as Akwa Ibom Boys booked tickets for the zonal finals with host Edo State.
On Sunday’s first match, Akwa Ibom walloped Rivers U17 Boys by 143 runs. Akwa Ibom opened the batting with a total score of 198 runs and lost 10 wickets at 27.1 over (198/10).
Rivers State chase ended at 55 runs all out (55/10) in 16.2 overs. The 143 runs victory proved Rivers were no longer the boss of Akwa Ibom in cricket games. Covenant Enobong won Player of the Match awards as Akwa Ibom secured the final position.
Similarly, host state Edo, whitewashed Cross Rivers State with 209 runs to cruise into the finals against arch-rival Akwa Ibom.
Edo batted first scoring 234 runs in 30 overs, opening an ocean-size gap for already shaken Rivers State U17 boys.
Cross River’s attempt on the expected target of 235 runs ended at 25 runs all out. Edo State’s new bowling prince, Godstime Ayeprince decimated Cross Rivers batters as he took 7 wickets singlehandedly.
Edo will be filling out on Monday against Akwa Ibom U17 Boys to determine the true champion of South-South in 2024. It promises to be a cricket fireworks show.
