ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Nigeria stun New Zealand with thrilling win

Nigeria players celebrate their win 

By M. Shamil Amit

Nigeria Women Under-19 playing in their first major tournament pulled off a stunning win over fancied New Zealand Women Under-19 in a thriller by two runs in a rain-shortened Group C match of the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup tournament in Kuching, Malaysia yesterday.

The match curtailed to 13 overs a side, saw Nigeria invited to take first lease of the wicket helped by useful knocks from skipper Lucky Piety and Lillian Udeh made a modest 65 for six. 

New Zealand in their run chase lost two early wickets within three overs with the score on two. They recovered through a 24-run stand for the third wicket between Anika Todd and Eve Wolland but lost wickets at regular intervals before being restricted to 63 for six.

It was Nigeria’s maiden win of the tournament while New Zealand suffered their second successive defeat having earlier lost against South Africa.

Meanwhile, Australia and South Africa coasted to their second successive win while England and USA recorded their first win of the tournament.

Sri Lanka will play their second match today against the West Indies at Kuala Lumpur while hosts Malaysia will clash against India at the same venue.

Chief scores:

At Kuching – Nigeria Women U19 won by 2 runs

Nigeria Women U19 65/6 in 13 overs (Lucky Piety 19, Lillian Udeh 18) New Zealand Women U19 63/6 in 13 overs (Anika Todd 19, Tash Wakelin 18)

At Bangi – Australia Women U19 won by 2 wickets

Bangladesh Women U19 91/9 (20) (Afia Ashima 29; Tegan Williamson 2/12, Caoimhe Bray 2/18, Eleanor Larosa 2/19) Australia Women U19 92/8 (19.2) (Lucy Hamilton 30, Kate Pelle 16; Jannatul Maoua 3/15)

At Kuching – South Africa U19 won by 10 wickets

Samoa Women U19 16 (9.1) (Nthabiseng Nini 3/4, Seshnie Naidu 2/0, Fay Cowling 2/4, Kayla Rayneke 2/5) South Africa Women U19 17/0 (1.4)

At Johor – England Women U19 won by 6 wickets

Pakistan Women U19 66 (13.5) (Zoofishan Ayyaz 15; Amu Surenkuma 3/17, Tilly Corteen-Coleman 2/2, Olivia Brinsden 2/7, Eve O’Neill 2/13) England Women U19 67/4 (9.2) (Katie Jones 20 n.o; Mahoor Zeb 2/29)

At Johor – USA Women U19 won by 9 wickets

Ireland Women U19 75 (17.4) (Alice Walsh 16; Isami Vaghela 3/10, Ritu Singh 2/8, Chetnaa Prasad 2/12, Aditiba Chudasama 2/16) USA Women U19 79/1 (9.4) (Disha Dhingra 46, Chetna Pagydyala 29 n.o)