Shocking turn of events ICC T20 World Cup Africa Subregion Qualifiersnewcomers Ivory Coast etched their names in cricket history for all the wrong reasons. For the second time in a T20 International match, they struggled with the lowest score against the host nation NigeriaHe suffered a stunning defeat of 264 runs. This dismal performance was the lowest total ever recorded in men’s T20Is and broke the previous record of 10 runs. Mongolia earlier this year.
Ivory Coast suffer an embarrassing outing in the second T20I
The match took place at the Tafawa Balewa Ground Cricket Oval in Lagos where Nigeria won the toss and elected to bat first. It was a show of dominance led by their innings Salim Salauan impressive 112 runs off just 53 balls to become the first Nigerian to reach a T20I century. beside him, Sulaimon Runsewe and Isaac Okpe contributed significantly with scores of 50 and 65 respectively to guide Nigeria to 271 runs.
In contrast, Ivory Coast’s batting line-up collapsed under pressure. Their innings lasted just 7.3 overs, with just the opener Ouattara Katienefoa Mohamad manages to score more than one run, finishing with 4 runs off 6 balls. The rest of the team faltered dramatically, with seven players failing to score and three others managing just one run each, contributing to a record-low total of 7 runs. The collapse was emblematic of an inexperienced side trying to find its footing on the international stage.
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As an associate member country, we have a long way to go
The magnitude of Ivory Coast’s defeat is underlined by the fact that they have the lowest overall record in men’s T20Is. The previous record was shared between Mongolia and Mongolia The island of manboth were dismissed for 10 runs in separate matches. In addition, this match also ranks third as one of the biggest margin of victory in T20I history. Zimbabwe‘s 290 win The Gambia.
Despite this devastating loss, it is important to recognize that Ivory Coast is still in its infancy as an international cricket nation. He was accepted as an associate member ICC Their participation in this tournament in 2022 is a critical step in their development. The Ivory Coast Cricket Federation Since the introduction of cricket in 2015, several domestic competitions have started, but progress remains slow.
The experience will serve as a learning opportunity as Ivory Coast continue their journey in international cricket. While their start was marred by an undesirable record, it also serves as a reminder of the challenges emerging teams face on the global stage.