By Bockarie Allieu
The Sierra Leone U-19 national Mens Cricket team on Friday defeated their West Africa counterpart Nigeria by 9 wickets in the semi-final match on Friday.
In the semi-final match on Friday, Sierra Leone won the toss and opted to field first allowing Nigeria to bat first. Nigeria scored 116 runs all out in 31.3 overs in the 50 overs match. Sierra Leone replied with 119 runs loss of 1 wicket in 19 overs.
Sierra Leone won the match by 9 wickets. The winning made them to automatically qualify to the division 1 stage of the ICC U-19 W/C Qualifier next year.
The semi-finalists rest on Saturday to prepare for the final and the 3rd place match on Sunday. Sierra Leone face the host country Tanzania in the final match on Sunday while Nigeria battles with Rwanda in the 3rd place match on Sunday.
But the results of the two matches were not known onto press time. In the two matches on Sunday, the winner of the final match was crowned as the champion of the competition while the loser was awarded the runner-up trophy and silver medals. The winner in the 3rd place match joins Sierra Leone and Tanzania to be promoted to the division1 stage of the qualifier. The division1 ICC W/C U-19 Qualifier will take place next year with the host country to be announced.
The champion in the division1 qualifier will represent Africa in the ICC U-19 W/C Tournament in Sri Lanka in 2026. The team will return home tomorrow Tuesday and as per plan.
Cricket administrators, players and fans will converge at the ferry terminal at Kissy to give the team a big welcome on their arrival at the terminal.
At the terminal, the brass band will play the national anthem for the team. After the national Anthem, the convoy will drive through Bia Bureh Road, Kissy Road, Abacha Street, Wilberforce Street, Siaka Steven, Kroo Town Road onto Kingtom.
The Cricket Chairman said that the Boys need a loud welcome whether they win gold or the silver. He went on that what matter is that they have qualified to the division1 with unbeaten record.
As per their promise, the board apart from their allowances will be giving the team winning bonus while the Deputy Chairman Kobe Walker will be giving them $100 for any match they won in the competition.
Earlier on one of the board members, Alhaji and the Team Manager, Abu Best Kamara gave the team $100 each.
