The Ibadan Cricket League ended in grand style on Sunday, May 21, 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Liberty, Ibadan.
Defending Champion, Liberty Lions cricket club, completed a three-peat of the Cricket League with a victory over Government College Old Boys Association cricket club in the hardball event while Quantum cricket club emerged as the maiden champions of the newly introduced softball category.
The league which made a return after a 2-year break due to the corona virus pandemic had seven teams participating. Four Nigerian clubs; Government College Secondary School, Liberty Lions, Oluyole and Government College Old boys and three Indian clubs; Krishat, Quantum and Sumal doing battle in the softball and hardball categories.
With 63 runs in 6.3 overs and 3 wickets in the second innings, Liberty Lions were able to secure a third title on the trot over Government College Old Boys who had 62 runs in 3.5 overs all out in the first innings.
Quantum showed their superiority over Krishat in the softball final amassing 137 runs in 15 overs and 6 wickets in the first innings. It was going to be a tall order to overturn Quantum stats in the second innings, Krishat didn’t come close eventually; 93 runs in 13.2 overs all out was a lost course as Quantum emerge champions in the first ever softball event at the Ibadan Cricket League.
The grand finale saw legends of the game been honoured; Rt. Colonel Walter Jibonu and Mr. Okon Ukpong were bestowed with honour for their contributions and support towards the growth of the game in Oyo State.
The chairman of the Ibadan Cricket League, Honourable Yomi Oke was in ecstatic mood at the grand finale.
According to him, attracting the Indian Community into the league made it different.
‘Prior to now, they (Indian Community) have their own league and we have our own league but there is one Ibadan Cricket League now with the fusion of the softball and hardball. This season we were able to play the softball which is what the Indians play and hardball which is common with the Nigerian community.
‘It was also great seeing the young cricketers playing week in, week out competitively. This helps their growth and development in the game.’
The former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Oyo State is looking forward to having a much better league at the next edition.
‘We need to have more vibrancy, more spectators to watch the game, more publicity and introduce it to more private schools before the next edition. These are what we are planning before the commencement of the league come next season.’
Individual awards were also giving to outstanding players in five different categories both in the softball and hardball events.
HARDBALL OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
BEST BATTER
OLALEYE ELIJAH (Government College Old Boys) – 112 runs
BEST BOWLER
AKACHUKWU CHIMA (Liberty Lions) – 8 wickets
BEST FIELDER
JAMIU KABIR (Government College Old Boys) – 4 catches
BEST WICKET KEEPER
Miracle Ikaigo (Government College Old Boys)
MAN OF THE SERIES
AKACHUKWU CHIMA (Liberty Lions)
SOFTBALL OUTSTANDING PLAYERS
BEST BATTER
Maveen (Quantum) – 102 runs
BEST BOWLER
Yogesh (Krishat) – 10 wickets
BEST FIELDER
Shobit (Quantum) – 6 catches
BEST WICKET KEEPER
Kuldeep (Krishat)
MAN OF THE SERIES
Yogesh (Krishat)
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