Botswana vs Nigeria, ACTC, Today Match Prediction 07 December 2024

BO vs NIG Match Prediction & Analysis

Botswana square off against Nigeria in the eight match of the Africa Continental T20 Cup 2024 on a super Saturday, 7th December. The match is slated to be played at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali City in Rwanda and the scheduled start time is 4:45 PM IST. 

Botswana suffered a 10-wicket loss against Rwanda in their previous match, while Nigeria lost their last game against Uganda by five wickets in a rain curtailed clash. Both teams are coming off a loss in their last match and this game holds the key for Nigeria in of qualification. 

Current Standings - Nigeria with two wins in three matches, currently stand in second place, while Botswana with three losses in three matches are at the bottom of the points table. 

Head to Head Record - Nigeria dominates the head-to-head record against Botswana, having won the last three T20I encounters, including a 77-run victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifiers. Isaac Danladi, with 145 runs, is Nigeria's leading run-scorer against Botswana in T20Is.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

BO

L L L

BO

137/9 in 20.0 6.85

ACTC

Rwanda beat Botswana by 10 wickets 06 Dec 2024

RWA

138/0 in 16.2 8.45

NIG

185/5 in 20.0 9.25

ACTC

Nigeria beat Botswana by 29 runs 05 Dec 2024

BO

156/7 in 20.0 7.8

UGA

164/8 in 20.0 8.2

ACTC

Uganda won by 78 runs 04 Dec 2024

BO

86/10 in 20.0 4.3

NIG

W W

NIG

185/5 in 20.0 9.25

ACTC

Nigeria beat Botswana by 29 runs 05 Dec 2024

BO

156/7 in 20.0 7.8

RWA

138/10 in 15.3 8.9

ACTC

Nigeria beat Rwanda by 6 wickets 04 Dec 2024

NIG

92/4 in 11.4 7.89

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Botswana Preview

Botswana's struggles in the African Continental T20 Cup continued with a disappointing 10-wicket loss to Rwanda. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Botswana made a strong start with their openers scoring 69 runs in 7.4 overs. Captain Karabo Motlhanka contributed 26 runs off 21 balls, including three fours and a six. 

While Monroux Kasselman reached his maiden T20I half-century before falling for 51 runs off 40 balls. However, Botswana's momentum was halted by a series of wickets, and it was Tharindu Perera's quickfire 33 runs off 21 balls that propelled them to a total of 137/9.

Botswana's bowlers failed to defend the target due to dropped catches and loose bowling. They consistently bowled full deliveries outside the off stump, lacking the necessary pressure and good-length deliveries to restrict the Rwanda batters. As a result, Rwanda's openers were able to score freely, leading to a comfortable 10-wicket victory.

Botswana with this lose are eliminated from the tournament, but they will look to upset the momentum and chances of Nigeria by pulling off an upset which they did and also look to get their first win over Nigeria in T20I's. 

Botswana Predicted Playing XI:

Karabo Motlhanka (c), Monroux Kasselman, Vinoo Balakrishnan, Tharindu Perera, Valentine Mbazo (wk), Thatayaone Tshose, Phemelo Silas, Katlo Piet, Mmoloki Mooketsi, Boemo Kgosiemang, Boemo Khumalo

Botswana Actual Playing XI:

Karabo Motlhanka, Phemelo Silas, Vinoo Balakrishnan, Tharindu Perera, Thatayaone Tshose, Manroux Kasselman, Valentine Mbazo, Boemo Khumalo, Katlo Piet, Mmoloki Mooketsi, Boemo Kgosiemang

Nigeria Preview

Nigeria suffered their first loss of the tournament at the hands of Uganda in Match 6. After a promising start from their openers, Sulaimon Runsewe (23 runs) and Selim Salau (27 runs), who added 49 runs for the first wicket, the rest of the middle order failed to capitalize on good starts, falling short of significant contributions. Nigeria eventually posted a below-par score of 133/9.

Uganda chased down the target in a rain-shortened 9.4 overs. Ridwan Abdulkareem, with figures of 2/24, was the pick of the bowlers, rattling the Ugandan top order. Isaac Danladi also chipped in with a wicket.

Nigeria will aim to bounce back against an out-of-form Botswana team. Selim Salau, with 101 runs at an average of 33.66, and Sylvester Okpe, with 71 runs, are the top run-scorers for Nigeria. In the bowling department, Peter Aho, Ridwan Abdulkareem, and Isaac Danladi have taken four wickets each.

Nigeria Predicted Playing XI:

Sulaimon Runsewe (wk), Selim Salau, Isaac Danladi, Sylvester Okpe (c), Peter Aho, Olayinka Elijah Olaleye, Mohameed Taiwo, Isaac Okpe, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Vincent Adewoye, Prosper Useni

Nigeria Actual Playing XI:

Olayinka Elijah Olaleye, Isaac Danladi, Isaac Okpe, Prosper Useni, Sylvester Okpe, Vincent Adewoye, Selim Salau , Sulaimon Runsewe, Peter Aho, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Taiwo Mohammed

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The weather at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda on Saturday is expected to be around 24°C to 25°C and it is expected to be partly cloudy with 65% precipitation and 65% humidity and there is a 20% probability of rain during the match hours. 

BO vs NIG Pitch Report

The balanced pitch at Kigali favors both batters and bowlers. However, spinners have traditionally been most effective on this track, leading to an average first-innings score of 159 runs. Yesterday's matches saw lower scores, but the pitch improved as the game progressed, favoring the chasing team.

Toss: To Bowl

In the 100 T20 matches played at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda teams batting first won 42 matches, while the teams batting second won 51 matches. But in the current tournament teams batting first won three and teams batting second have also won three matches. But win rain interruption possible teams often prefer to bat first.