Idia Royal Crowned South-south Female Cricket Champions 

Idia Royals Female Cricket Club of Benin City defeated Smashers CC of Uyo by seven wickets to win the 2024 South-south Female Cricket League in Benin City yesterday.

National team player, Favour Eseigbe led Idia Royals to beat Pathfinders Cricket Club in the first Semi-final of the Super Four series on Saturday by one run to secure a spot in the finals. Smashers CC also subdued Adolo Amazon to get the second ticket for the dramatic finals.

Vice Chairman of Edo State Cricket Association, Barrister Abraham Oviawe said the emergence of a new winner of the event shows the level of competitiveness that the event has attracted.

“It is very impressive to see the quality of talent that this event has unearthed in just three editions. Many of the teams now work hard to develop their players and not depend on the established names.”

The first two edition winners were Ekpoma Supernovas and Smashers Cricket Club respectively.

Smashers CC’s Salome Sunday won the batter of the series with 47 runs in the Super Four, while Unwana Moses of Pathfinder was the bowler of the series. Esther Sandy also of Smashers was named the fielder of the series while Piety Lucky was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the series.

Eight teams took part in the third edition of the South-South Female Cricket League with four teams qualifying for the Super Four phase of the league.

Uyi Akpata, Chairman of the Edo State Cricket Association, who also doubles as the President of Nigeria Cricket Federation has said the league which is the only female Cricket League in this part of  Africa has been one of the key elements driving the development of female cricket on the continent.

“The league is one of the major events. We appreciate all the support from the government and coaches that make it work. This league holds the key to our development,” he concluded