Ivory Coast Bowled Out for Record-Low 7 Runs in Historic Defeat to Nigeria
Nigeria registered a historic 264-run win over Ivory Coast in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier Group C on Sunday in Lagos. Ivory Coast were bowled out for a record-low total of 7, marking the lowest score in men’s T20I history.
Nigeria’s Dominant Batting Display
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Nigeria posted a mammoth 271 for 4:
- Selim Salau: Blazed his way to 112 off 53 balls before retiring out, earning the Player-of-the-Match award.
- Isaac Okpe: Smashed an unbeaten 65 in just 23 balls, accelerating Nigeria’s total in the death overs.
- Sulaimon Runsewe: Contributed a brisk 50 off 29 deliveries.
The trio decimated Ivory Coast’s bowlers, with only Dimitri picking up a solitary wicket for 45 runs.
Ivory Coast’s Record-Low Total
In response, Ivory Coast collapsed spectacularly:
- Their innings lasted just 7.3 overs, with the batters managing scores of 4, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0*, and 0.
- Ouattara Mohamed was the top scorer with 4 runs.
Bowling highlights:
- Isaac Danladi: Took 3 for 2 with his left-arm spin.
- Prosper Useni: Claimed 3 for 0 with his left-arm pace.
- Peter Aho: Chipped in with 2 for 0.
One batter was run out, while Sylvester Okpe picked up the final wicket.
Records Broken
- Lowest T20I Total: Ivory Coast’s 7 broke the previous record of 10 all out, set by Mongolia (vs. Singapore) in 2023 and Isle of Man (vs. Spain) in 2022.
- Third-Largest Victory Margin: Nigeria’s 264-run win ranks third in T20I history, behind Zimbabwe’s 290-run win over Gambia (2023) and Nepal’s 273-run win over Mongolia (Asian Games 2023).
Tournament Standings
- Nigeria secured their second win, topping the six-team table.
- Ivory Coast suffered their second defeat, following a 168-run loss to Sierra Leone, and remain at the bottom of the standings.
Nigeria’s comprehensive performance cements their position as favorites in Group C as they march toward further qualifiers.
