Cricket: Nigeria Beats New Zealand, Secures First U-19 Women’s World Cup Win
Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens made history on Monday with a dramatic two-run victory over New Zealand, earning their first-ever win at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
The game, initially delayed by rain in Sarawak, began over two hours later than scheduled and was reduced to 13 overs per side. Despite the disruption, the Nigerian team seized the opportunity to showcase their skills against the fourth-ranked New Zealanders.
Winning the toss, New Zealand chose to field, sending Nigeria’s batters to the crease. Captain Lucky Piety led from the front, hitting Nigeria’s first six in Women’s World Cup history. Her steady performance helped the Junior Yellow Greens post a total of 65 runs for the loss of six wickets in the limited overs.
In the second innings, Nigeria’s bowlers rose to the occasion. Led by Sarah Bakhita, they adopted a disciplined approach, steadily chipping away at New Zealand’s batting lineup. The bowlers held their nerve in the final moments, restricting the opposition to 63 runs for six wickets, sealing the narrow and historic victory.
The win marked Nigeria’s first taste of success at this level, showcasing their potential and resilience against a test-playing nation.
