Northern Lions, Southern Sharks, Middle-Belt Tigers and Central Eagles have qualified for the semi-finals of the Nigeria Super League following the latest round of matches in the novel cricket tournament, Sports Extra reports.
The Southern Sharks sealed the last semi-final ticket on Monday after a dominant 35-run victory over Eastern Elephants in a rain-affected five-over contest. The Sharks produced a clinical display with both bat and ball to secure the crucial win that confirmed their place in the knockout stage.
Northern were the first team to book their place in the semi-finals last Thursday, and they currently lead the standings after an impressive group-stage campaign. The Lions have won all their four matches so far and emerged as one of the favourites for the title with strong performances across their fixtures.
Middle-Belt Tigers also booked their place in the semi-finals after a solid run in the group phase, while Central Eagles secured qualification with crucial victories that kept them among the top four teams in the competition.
Attention will now shift to Wednesday’s final group-stage encounter between Northern Lions and Middle-Belt Tigers, a clash that could determine who finishes at the top of the table ahead of the semi-finals. Both sides will be eager to carry momentum into the knockout rounds.
Depending on the outcome of the encounter, the first-placed team will take on the second-placed team in the first semi-final on Thursday, while the third and fourth-placed teams will face off for the second final ticket on the same day.
The winners of the two semi-finals will clash in the final on Saturday, May 30.
Contact: [email protected]