Nigeria triumphs over Ghana with commanding 136-run victory in T20I match

Nigeria's women's national cricket team extended their winning streak at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Women's Invitational T20I tournament, overpowering Ghana by 136 runs at the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval in Lagos on Sunday.

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The team's comprehensive victory was the result of a skilled all-round performance, showcasing their increasing confidence in the competition with a dominant win over their West African rivals.

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After securing the toss, Nigeria opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 159 for four in their allotted 20 overs, maintaining a steady scoring rate throughout the innings with disciplined shot selection and effective strike rotation.

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The team's top and middle order made significant contributions, setting a challenging target despite early pressure from Ghana, with Captain Lucky Piety initially leading the charge with 23 off 17 balls before being bowled by Grace Essuon in the sixth over.

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Christable Chukwuonye emerged as Nigeria's top scorer with 43 off 27 balls, while reigning Nigeria Women's Player of the Year Kehinde Amusa added 36 from 39 deliveries, as the team's innings was further boosted by extras, particularly wides, due to Ghana's inconsistent bowling.

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Ghana struggled to match Nigeria's intensity in response, as the home side's bowlers restricted scoring opportunities with tight lines and lengths, leading to wickets falling as early as the first over and putting Ghana on the back foot.

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The visitors were unable to build the necessary partnerships to mount a serious chase, with Nigeria's disciplined bowling causing the required run rate to climb, effectively taking the game away from their opponents.

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Peace Usen was named Player of the Match for the second consecutive match, taking three wickets for just nine runs in four overs, while debutants Henrietta Mbam and Favour Effiong also impressed with three wickets and two wickets respectively.

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The victory strengthened Nigeria's position in the round-robin tournament, following their opening win against Zimbabwe U-19, and marked another significant milestone in their campaign.

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For Ghana, the defeat was their third of the tournament, following a heavy loss to Rwanda in the opener and a second-game defeat to South Africa U-19, marking another setback in their bid for success.