THE University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) over the weekend defeated Unity Cricket Club of Awka by a run to emerge the champion of the maiden edition of the South East Cricket Championship for Barr. Chuma Anosike Cup, which held at the Government Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State. The highly competed 25 overs encounter saw Unity Club batting first and scoring 97 runs for nine wickets, while the UNN team, led by the Nigerian former international, Dr. Jacob Onyechi (Teamber), levelled up at 24.2 overs, scoring 98 runs for five wickets. The match, described by chairman of the occasion and former cricketer, the Ozuruigbo V of Owerri, Eze (Dr.) E. E. Njemanze, as challenging and entertaining, was tension-soaked as the two teams fought to the last minute. After the game, Eze Njemanze encouraged the organisers to reach out to other South East states and the old Eastern Region to spread the noble game through the nation. In his opening speech, sponsor of the championship, Anosike, thanked the dignitaries as well as the participating teams: Unity Cricket Club of Awka (Anambra), Owerri Cricket Club (Imo) and the University of Nigeria Cricket Club (Enugu) for displaying the spirit of sportsmanship. He also called on all lovers of cricket in the country to support the growth of the game in the region, saying that the sport would grow if everybody added his own quota in this development. Anosike encouraged sponsors to team up as much as possible to ensure the game is kept alive through sponsorship of tournaments. While acknowledging the co-sponsorship of Ekulo Group of Companies, who within the short notice agreed to support the game, the sponsor further praised UAC Foods for providing snacks during the tournament. To qualify for the finals, Unity Club defeated Owerri Cricket Club by 86-83 runs in the opening match and lost to UNN in its second match. In the final match of the round robin game, the Owerri team lost to UNN by 65 to 63 runs. Joseph Agada of UNN won the bowler of the series award, while Ugochukwu Umeh of Unity Club took the fielder of the series award. The wicket keeper of the series went to Okey Okeke of UNN, while Chisom Adagu and Joseph Agada won the batsman and man of the series awards respectively.
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