Inyene Ubong from Akwa Ibom became a new cricket sensation when she anchored a brilliant batting role to help Akwa Ibom whitewash Rivers State by 98 runs for the first victory in 2024 NCF/PwC National U17 Cricket Championship in south-south.

Akwa Ibom scored 120 runs and lost 9 wickets in 15 overs (120/9). Rivers were subdued and all out after scoring a paltry 22 runs and all out (22/10) in 7.2 overs.

Inyene who batted 47 runs off 39 balls won the Player of the Match Award. The excited teenager told newsmen she was pleased to have won the award despite being so exhausted. 

Blessing Etim, Nigeria’s female team captain who doubled as the coach of the Akwa Ibom female team said the girl’s performance was barely 50% of her expectations. She hopes the girls will perform better against Delta in their next game to qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Phillips Miebaka, coach of the Rivers State female team said his girls were greenhorns in cricket games. Miebaka blamed the huge gap between them and Akwa Ibom to barely 3 months in cricket. 

Coach Miebaka assured that the experience will build them up while the state is making sure the generational gap in female cricket players is replaced. Rivers State formerly produces the bulk of the south-south players for the national team.

Written by Akanimo Kufre