Nigeria’s under-19 women’s cricket team has secured its first-ever win at the 2024 ICC Women’s T-20 World Cup in Malaysia.
The team beat New Zealand in their first-ever completed World Cup match after their first match against Samoa over the weekend was cut short due to wet weather conditions.
The same conditions threatened their full debut; however, the match was reduced to a contest of 13 overs each, which Nigeria won in thrilling, nail-biting fashion. The Nigerian team batted first and scored 65-6, producing a staunch field display to limit New Zealand to a batting score of 63-6.
New Zealand was 57-5 and needed nine runs with one over to go, but tight bowling from Lilian Ude got Nigeria over the line, with the Kiwis finishing two runs shy of Nigeria’s total. After securing the win at the 2024 ICC Women’s T-20 World Cup, the Nigerian team was ecstatic, with players and officials expressing unbridled joy.
This is Nigeria’s first-ever cricket World Cup win. The under-19 men’s team made their World Cup debut in 2019. This under-19 women’s team must win their final group stage match against South Africa to qualify for the next stage, especially since their previous match against Samoa ended in a draw.
