The 2024 Nigeria Invitational Women's T20I Tournament was a Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket tournament that took place in Nigeria from 25 February to 3 March 2024.[1] The participating teams were Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.[2] Tanzania competed in the tournament for the first time.[3] Nigeria were the defending champions, having defeated Rwanda in the final of the 2023 edition.[4]
| Dates | 25 February – 3 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Administrator(s) | Nigeria Cricket Federation |
| Cricket format | Twenty20 International |
| Tournament format(s) | Double round-robin |
| Host(s) |  Nigeria |
| Champions |  Tanzania (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Nigeria |
| Participants | 4 |
| Matches | 12 |
| Player of the series | Perice Kamunya (11) |
| Most runs | Saum Mtae (203) |
| Most wickets |  Rosine Irera (11) Perice Kamunya (11) |
All matches were played at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos.[5] The fourth edition of the tournament provided the Nigerian, Rwandan and Tanzanian teams with preparation for the 2023 Africa Games.[6]
Rwanda won their opening game against tournament favourites Tanzania,[7] while Nigeria also started with a win on the opening day.[8] On day two, Tanzania picked up their first win, defeating Nigeria.[9] Meanwhile, Rwanda secured a second victory after thrashing Sierra Leone by 10 wickets.[10]
At the halfway stage of the tournament, Nigeria, Tanzania were tied on two wins amid one defeat each, after the hosts claimed an important victory against Rwanda.[11] Nigeria and Tanzania maintained momentum with wins in round four.[12][13]
Tanzania defeated Nigeria for a second time in round five to move clear at the top of the table with only a game against winless Sierra Leone remaining.[14] Tanzania beat Sierra Leone by 92 runs to secure the title.[15] Nigeria defeated Rwanda in the final match of to claim the runner up spot, ahead of their opponents who finished third and Sierra Leone who lost all six of their matches.[16] Perice Kamunya of Tanzania was named player of the tournament.[17]
Squads
edit| Nigeria[18]
|
Rwanda[19]
|
 Sierra Leone[20]
|
Tanzania[21]
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Points table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanzania
|
6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2.867 |
| 2 | Nigeria
|
6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0.026 |
| 3 | Rwanda
|
6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0.740 |
| 4 | Sierra Leone
|
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | −4.291 |
Fixtures
editv
|
||
Merveille Uwase 36 (38)
Sophia Jerome 2/10 (4 overs) |
Saum Mtae 29 (21)
Henriette Ishimwe 3/14 (3 overs) |
- Rwanda won the toss and elected to bat.
- Saidat Mbaki (Tan) made her T20I debut.
v
|
||
Favour Eseigbe 47 (49)
Zainab Kamara 1/17 (4 overs) |
Celina Bull 23 (33)
Adeshola Adekunle 3/12 (4 overs) |
- Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat.
v
|
||
Saum Mtae 38 (27)
Adeshola Adekunle 2/21 (4 overs) |
Blessing Etim 29 (35)
Perice Kamunya 4/7 (4 overs) |
- Tanzania won the toss and elected to bat.
v
|
||
Jane Newland 13 (17)
Rosine Irera 4/13 (3.5 overs) |
Merveille Uwase 31* (19)
|
- Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to bat.
- Zurufat Ishimwe (Rwa) and Jane Newland (Sle) both made their T20I debuts.
v
|
||
Favour Eseigbe 36 (54)
Marie Tumukunde 2/29 (4 overs) |
- Nigeria won the toss and elected to field.
v
|
||
Tabu Omary 33* (27)
Zainab Kamara 3/14 (2 overs) |
Jane Newland 17 (28)
Agnes Qwele 3/8 (3 overs) |
- Tanzania won the toss and elected to bat.
- Theresa Tommy (Sle) made her T20I debut.
v
|
||
Merveille Uwase 20 (14)
Perice Kamunya 3/21 (4 overs) |
- Tanzania won the toss and elected to bat.
v
|
||
Celina Bull 26 (34)
Lillian Udeh 4/11 (4 overs) |
Salome Sunday 35 (26)
Ann Marie Kamara 2/20 (4 overs) |
- Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to bat.
v
|
||
Zainab Kamara 9* (18)
Josiane Nyirankundineza 3/8 (4 overs) |
- Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to bat.
- Sylvia Usabyimana (Rwa) made her T20I debut.
v
|
||
Hudaa Omary 54* (36)
Lucky Piety 2/29 (4 overs) |
Esther Sandy 17 (13)
Sophia Jerome 4/14 (4 overs) |
- Tanzania won the toss and elected to bat.
v
|
||
Saum Mtae 86* (57)
Zainab Kamara 1/17 (2 overs) |
Ann Marie Kamara 18 (37)
Sheila Kizito 1/8 (3 overs) |
- Tanzania won the toss and elected to bat.
Notes
edit- ^ Fatu Pessima and Zainab Kamara captained Sierra Leone in the sixth and eleventh matches of the series, respectively.
References
edit- ^ "Ladies Patriots Unveil 18-Player Provisional Squad for Nigeria Women's T20i Invitational". Awoko. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: NCF T20i tourney begins Feb 23". Punch. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria to host Tanzania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: Nigeria wins Women's T20i Invitational tournament". Premium Times. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Cricket: Nigeria, Rwanda brace for Tanzania challenge". Punch. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria Cricket to host NCF Women's T20 Invitational in February/March 2024". Czarsportz. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Bimenyimana aims higher after winning start in Nigeria". The New Times. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria begin women T20i cricket defence with win". The Cable. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "NCF Women T20i Invitational Tournament: How we plotted Nigeria's fall -Tanzania captain". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: Irera leads Rwanda women to win over Sierra Leone". The New Times. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Women's T20i Tournament: Nigeria Defeats Rwanda by four wickets". Voice of Nigeria. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: Nigeria maintains momentum, defeats Sierra Leone in Women's T20 Invitational Tournament". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria, Tanzania top leaderboard at women's T20i". New Telegraph. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: Nigeria suffers another defeat against Tanzania in T20I clash". Premium Times. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ "Cricket: Nigeria finish second as Tanzania secure maiden T20I title in Lagos". Premium Times. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "Nigeria second as Tanzania win NCF cricket tourney". Punch. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ "NCF Women's T20I Tournament 2024: Tanzania clinches victory". Nigeria Cricket Federation. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Unveiling the host Nation!". Nigeria Cricket Federation. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Nhamburo eyes Nigeria Women T20 tournament glory". The New Times. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ "Cricket Sierra Leone unveils final squad for Nigeria Women's T20i Invitational Tournament". Awoko. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ "The national team squad is all set to depart for Nigeria tomorrow with a squad of 14 players and 3 members of the technical staff". Tanzania Cricket Association. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Nigeria Cricket Federation Women's T20I Tournament 2024". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2024.