Joel Ajayi
The group stage of the 7th NCF–PwC National U-17 Cricket Championship Finals reached a decisive point on Match Day 3 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with the teams advancing to the semi-finals in both the boys’ and girls’ categories now confirmed.
After three days of intense competition, the tournament now moves into a high-stakes knockout phase as regional teams battled fiercely to secure their places in the last four.
Match Day 3 Results: The Final Push
Match Day 3 delivered dramatic, all-or-nothing encounters as regions fought for survival. The South-South teams maintained their dominance, while other regions battled through tense moments to seal qualification.
Boys’ Category Results (Match Day 3)
South-South vs North-West
South-South delivered another commanding performance, posting 157/4, powered by an impressive 68 runs off 66 balls from Ebiram Bright Ojong. They followed it up with a devastating bowling display, dismissing North-West for just 14/10 to secure a massive 143-run victory.
South-West vs North-East
In a high-scoring contest, South-West set a formidable target of 195/6 in 25 overs. Their bowlers then restricted North-East to 75/10 in 23.5 overs, sealing a convincing 120-run win.
Girls’ Category Results (Match Day 3)
South-South vs South-West
South-South concluded their group stage campaign strongly with a six-wicket victory.
South-West: 63/10
South-South: 64/4
South-East vs North-East
South-East strengthened their semi-final credentials with an emphatic 80-run victory after bowling out North-East for 80 runs in 19.4 overs.
Group Stage Overview
Throughout the group stage, the South-South teams proved to be the standout performers, remaining unbeaten in both categories.
Their dominance was built on a balanced combination of aggressive pace bowling and disciplined middle-order batting.
The South-West boys demonstrated remarkable resilience, with their crucial opening-day victory over South-East proving vital for their semi-final seeding.
In the girls’ category, South-East emerged as one of the tournament’s rising forces, relying heavily on an effective spin-bowling strategy that troubled their northern opponents.
Although eliminated, teams from the North-East and North-Central regions displayed promising development, with several players delivering notable individual performances.
Upcoming Semi-Final Fixtures.
The championship now moves into the knockout stage on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
Girls’ Semi-Finals
• South-South vs North-West
• South-East vs South-West
Boys’ Semi-Finals
• South-South vs North-West
• South-West vs South-East
Fans and followers can stay connected with tournament updates through the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s digital platforms:
Website: nigeriacricket.com.ng
X: @Cricket_nigeria
Facebook: @nigeriacricketfederation
Instagram: @nigeriacricketfederation
Threads: @nigeriacricketfederation
Tournament Links:
Girls’ Matches:
Boys’ Matches:
