Nigeria Secures Historic Win Over New Zealand in Cricket U-19 Women’s World Cup
Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens celebrated a landmark victory, edging out New Zealand by two runs in their debut match at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia. The thrilling encounter unfolded on Monday, January 20, at the Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, marking Nigeria’s first-ever win in the tournament.
Delayed Start, Historic Finish
After their opening match against Samoa was washed out, Nigeria finally took the field on Monday despite a two-hour delay caused by a wet pitch. New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first in the rain-shortened 13-over match.
Nigeria’s innings saw an early wobble, losing three wickets for just 28 runs in the powerplay. However, skipper Lucky Piety led the recovery with a spirited knock, including Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup six. Contributions from Lilian Ude (19 runs) and a last-ball four by Omosigho Eguakun set New Zealand a modest target of 66 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Junior Yellow Greens Shine with the Ball
The second innings showcased Nigeria’s resolve as Peace Usen made an immediate impact, claiming the team’s first World Cup wicket with a run-out on the opening ball. New Zealand’s Emma McLeod fell shortly after, scoring just three runs.
While Eve Wolland and Anika Todd tried to anchor New Zealand’s chase, their dismissals by Piety and Shola Adekunle tipped the balance back in Nigeria’s favor. In a tense final over, Ude delivered a masterclass, conceding only six runs and executing a decisive run-out on the last ball to secure Nigeria’s narrow victory.
Piety Named Player of the Match
Captain Lucky Piety’s all-around brilliance earned her the Player of the Match award. She scored 18 runs off 22 balls and bowled three overs, taking one wicket for just eight runs, a performance that played a crucial role in Nigeria’s triumph.
Group Standings and Next Challenge
The victory positions Nigeria second in Group C with three points, behind leaders South Africa, who defeated Samoa by 10 wickets in their second match. Both Nigeria and South Africa are well-poised to advance to the Super 6 stage and will face off on Wednesday, January 22, in a high-stakes battle to determine the group’s top spot.
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