In a historic and unprecedented match, Ivory Coast's cricket team was dismissed for a mere seven runs in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier match against Sierra Leone. This total is now the lowest-ever team score recorded in a men's T20 International. The game took place on November 23, 2024, at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos, Nigeria, leaving cricket fans and analysts stunned at the outcome.
Sierra Leone's bowlers displayed a remarkable performance, dismantling the Ivory Coast batting lineup in just 10.4 overs. George Ngegba led the attack with exceptional figures of 3 wickets for only 1 run in three overs, earning him the Player of the Match award. His teammates supported effectively, with the entire Ivory Coast batting order succumbing to disciplined and precise bowling.
Batting first, Sierra Leone had set a challenging total of 189/2, powered by aggressive knocks from their top-order batsmen. The Ivory Coast's pursuit of this daunting target began disastrously, with their batsmen struggling to cope with the pace and swing of the Sierra Leone bowlers. The Ivory Coast innings saw only one player scoring more than a single run, a statistic that underscored their complete collapse.
This match not only shattered records but also highlighted the vast gap in performance between the two teams. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are debating the factors behind Ivory Coast's lackluster performance, with discussions centering on their preparation and experience at this level of competition.
The record-breaking match is expected to be a wake-up call for Ivory Coast to focus on skill development and competitive exposure. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone's victory, sealed by a margin of 168 runs, has significantly boosted their morale and standings in the tournament.
