18th December, 2012
The 2012/2013 Club Cricket Committee, CCC, League began at the weekend with the defending champions, Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club comencing the season on a high.
The team sent a strong signal to all contenders for the trophy in the new season with a resounding six wicket victory over Government College, Ibadan Old Boys Cricket Club, GCIOB, in a match played at the Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS Oval, Onikan, Lagos.
In the first innings, GCIOB had 155 runs in 47.5 overs for 10 wickets. Onwuzulike Ositadinma, who captained the Ibadan team scored 51 runs off 90 balls. Adedeji Sesan of GCIOB also scored 25 runs off 25 balls, while Odeleke Gbenga of the same team had 23 runs off 57 balls.
Ibeju Lekki’s Ojede Leke had 3 wickets for 9 overs, his teammate, Abioye Abiodun took 4 wicket in 7.5 overs.
In the second innings, Ibeju Lekki came back forcefully to have 156 runs for 5 wickets in 32 overs. Onikoyi Ademola of Ibeju had 80 runs off 62 balls. Bejide Jide also of Ibeju had 15 runs off 18 balls, while Leke had 14 runs off 20 balls.
GCIOB’s Adedeji Sesan, however, took 3 wickets in 80 overs. Adeoye Wale and Austin Arega also of GCIOB took one wicket each.
One of the players of Ibeju Lekki side, Olalekan Awolowo, told P.M.NEWS after the match that they had it so tough winning the grudged encounter.
“GCIOB gave us a good run for our money. I think we didn’t play like the Ibeju Lekki team today. We won this match because we have more experienced players in the team who are national team stars,” Awolowo said.
Captain of GCIOB, Ositadinma said they played poorly because the match was the first in the season, and many of the players were match rusty.
“I think we’ll surely come back in our next match on 22 December,” he said.
—Taiwo Adelu