FCC Leads CCC Lagos Premier League as Play-offs Near

Foundation Cricket Club have climbed to the top of the Club Cricket Committee Lagos Premier League Division following an impressive showing last weekend, recording wins over Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club and Island Titans Cricket Club, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

In their fifth game of the round-robin phase on Saturday, January 31, FCC secured a dramatic four-run victory over Ibeju Lekki, clinching the match with a late dismissal five balls from the end.

After FCC posted 91 runs all out, Ibeju Lekki were set a target of 92 to win. Their chase went down to the final over with nine wickets down, setting up a tense finish.

With five balls remaining and five runs required, the game took a decisive turn when Kareem Ayoku was run out by Elijah Jimmy on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Having handed Ibeju Lekki their second defeat of the season, FCC completed a perfect weekend with a five-wicket victory over Island Titans, remaining unbeaten after six matches.

As the CCC Lagos League approaches the Super 6 and Super 4 play-offs in both divisions, other teams are also raising their level in a bid to secure qualification.

With FCC, Ibeju Lekki and Island Titans occupying the top three positions, they are followed by Government College Ibadan, defending champions Rising Stars and Federal Government College Warri in the top six. Meanwhile, MRI Warriors, Super Eagles and Division One champions Rocks of Abeokuta are battling to avoid relegation.

The CCC Lagos League, which began as a four-club competition in 1987, has grown into a 22-team tournament played across two divisions.

There are nine clubs in the Premier Division, while the remaining 13 teams compete in Division One, which is subdivided into Leagues A and B, with seven teams each.

In Division One, the top two teams from Leagues A and B will advance to a Super 4 tournament, from which the top two teams will earn promotion to the Premier Division.

In the Premier Division, the league champion will be decided via a Super 6 tournament, while the two bottom-placed teams at the end of the regular season will be relegated to Division One.

Rising Stars Cricket Club and Rocks of Abeokuta emerged as champions of the Premier Division and Division One, respectively, last season.