HIGH-RIDING BRFCC continued its unbeaten run this season with a brilliant 67 runs victory over Division Two champion, Foundation Cricket Club (FCC), at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket oval at the weekend. Each of Joshua Ogunlola and Lekan Awolowo took two wickets as BRFCC strolled past FCC to the final of the 2010/2011 Iris Smart Technology Club Cricket Committee League, where it will meet Federal Government College Old Boys Cricket Club (FGCW). FGCW upset Government College Ibadan Cricket Club (GCIOB) on Sunday at the same venue. In the game against the ambitious newcomers to the Division One League, Ademola Onikoyi top-scored with 51 runs for BRFCC, captain Sean Phillips and Udoh Friday had 43 runs while Varun Behranis 21 runs not out was also achieved by fellow spinner, Lekan Awolowo, as the team, formerly known as Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club 1, made a total of 231 for seven wickets in 35 overs. Olayinka Tope grabbed three wickets for 49 runs in seven overs for FCC while Adegbola Niyi had two wickets in seven overs for 42 runs. In reply, FCC enjoyed a good start as opening batsmen Chris Shokoya and Otegbeye Lumumba kept tightly their wickets before that partnership was broken by one of national cricket teams most reliable bowlers, Saheed Akolade. Though left hand all-rounder Tope Olayinka put up 52 runs for FCC, it was not enough to send the captain Dele Oshodi team to its first final in many years. FCC, which total was 164 runs all out in 35 overs, still has an opportunity to play in a final this season, and that is the GTASSUR 20/20 competition starting this weekend. In another thrilling encounter at the TBS oval on Sunday, a determined FGCWOB forced out defending champion, GCIOB, by four wickets to set up a final meeting with BRFCC. Batting first after winning the toss, GCIOBCC crumbled in its batting line-up, with Obed Harvey (30 runs), Adegbola Kunle (27 runs) and captain Odeku Oluwaseun (21 runs) the highlights of the first innings as the Ibadan-based side posted a paltry 147 runs all out. New invitee into the Nigerian cricket team, Femi Oduyebo, had four wickets for 18 runs in seven overs with the duo of Omozejele Frank and returnee Agbowanegbe Kelvin taking two wickets each. FGCWOBCC met that same score with 72 balls to spare as the Warri-based team put up a total of 148 runs for loss of six wickets. The Roland Ilube-tutored squad had the quartet of Emmanuel Okwudili (28 runs), Uthe Ogbimi (27 runs), Oboh Omogui (25 runs) and Oduyebo Femi (22 runs) to thank for its courageous batting. Despite Oluwaseun Odekus two wickets for 22 runs, two maidens in 8.4 overs, the Ibadan team could not stop the Warri boys, who gained promotion from Division Two three years ago from reaching their first final in the clubs history.
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