Nigeria upsets New Zealand at Malaysia Cricket World Cup
21 January 2025 |
1:52 am
Lucky Piety put up a fantastic performance yesterday as Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens provided the first shock of the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia by defeating test-playing nation, New Zealand, by two runs at the Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, Malaysia.
• NCS hails team‘
Lucky Piety put up a fantastic performance yesterday as Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens provided the first shock of the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia by defeating test-playing nation, New Zealand, by two runs at the Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Having seen their first game, which was supposed to be against Samoa washed out on Saturday, Nigeria’s buzzing stars finally got a taste of the action against New Zealand, a game that started two hours behind schedule due to a wet playing surface.
Despite the delay, there was no denying the eager Nigerian girls their time in the sun even with New Zealand winning the toss and electing to field first in a reduced 13-over match.
After an early peck on the woods, captain Piety led the charge, scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup six before New Zealand hit back, applying the squeeze and claiming two wickets to see Nigeria slip to 28 for three after the powerplay.
Lilian Ude added 19 runs before a four off the final ball from Omosigho Eguakun saw Nigeria set up New Zealand to chase 66 runs for the loss of six wickets in 13 overs.
Knowing they had to come to the party with their bowling in the second innings, the Junior Yellow Greens hit the gears gradually and took their first World Cup wicket off their first ball by Peace Usen as Kate Irwin was run out, just as her opening partner, Emma McLeod, was dismissed for three.
Eve Wolland and Anika Todd scored patiently to steady New Zealand’s innings but their dismissals by Piety and Shola Adekunle gave Nigeria renewed hope to win the match.Ude bowled a perfect final over, conceding only six runs with a run out on the final ball as Nigeria claimed a special and historic win.
For her game-changing performance, including 18 runs off 22 balls and a sharp bowling spell of one wicket for just eight runs in three overs, Piety was given the Player of The Match award.
Nigeria are now second in Group C with three points, one point adrift of leaders, South Africa, who brushed aside Samoa by 10 wickets for their second win of the tournament.
Both Nigeria and South Africa are in good positions to advance into the Super 6 stage of the tournament but they will face off tomorrow to decide who finishes on top of the group.
In his reaction to the victory, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade described it as a famous one that will go down in the history books as one of the sports’ biggest upsets.
“I am very excited for our U-19 cricket team and this particular win is worthy of celebration for so many reasons,” Olopade said. “The girls showed resilience which is the true Nigerian spirit and patriotism to upset cricket giants like New Zealand.”
Olopade however urged the girls not to be carried away after beating the New Zealanders and charged them to see the victory as a stepping stone to bigger achievements.
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