By: Danjuma Attah, Gombe
The male and female under seventeen cricket teams of Gombe State have picked a slot each in the Nigeria Cricket Federation PwC Championship.
The two teams picked the slots after emerging victorious in the Northeast Zonal Elimination held at the Pantami Stadium Gombe, on 26th and 27th January 2024.
For the male team, it was their third zonal representation for Gombe State after a determined effort enabled them to have a repeat of their past achievements.
In their opening match against Borno State team, they dominated the game with a commanding 112-run chase, winning by 88 runs.
This victory propelled them to the final against Taraba State who previously defeated Bauchi with a decisive 7-wicket margin.
In the final game, Gombe once again asserted their dominance, posting an impressive 140 runs within their 20 overs.
Taraba State faltered in response, falling short of the chase, and Gombe secured the zonal championship crown.
In the female category, the Gombe U-17 girls faced a less competitive scenario, as only Taraba State presented themselves in that category.
Nevertheless, the Gombe girls demonstrated their skills, claiming victory with a confident 46-run chase in 16.1 overs.
The third-place match saw Bauchi edge out Borno in a nail-biting encounter.
After posting 147 runs, Bauchi barely held their breath as Borno threatened with 144 runs, ultimately securing a 3-run victory.
With their zonal triumphs, both Gombe State U-17 teams earned the right to represent the Northeast in the upcoming National U17 Championship.
