The Junior Female Yellow-Greens of Nigeria secured a two-run victory over New Zealand at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
The team stunned their New Zealander opponents to claim Nigeria’s first-ever win in the tournament on Monday.
The game nearly followed the script of Nigeria’s scheduled first game against Samoa, which was abandoned due to a downpour on Friday.
But the rain only forced a few minutes of delay as the Junior Female Yellow-Greens eventually wrote themselves into history.
New Zealand elected to field first, sending the Nigerian batters into the crease.
But Lucky Piety, Nigerian captain, hit the team’s first six at a Women’s World Cup in a steadied innings, leading her side to finish with 65 runs for the loss of six wickets in 13 overs.
Knowing they had to be superior in their bowling, the Junior Female Yellow-Greens took the second innings slow and steady and eventually knocked off the fourth-ranked New Zealand for 63 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Speaking after the game, Piety said the ambition to win for the nation motivated the victory.
“We felt really short-changed by the rain on Saturday but we were determined not to rest on our oars and today’s victory has made us even more motivated to keep going in the competition, notwithstanding that it is our maiden outing,” she said.
“We are dedicating this win to all Nigerians at home and around the world and I want to say we will not let down,” the captain also said.
Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said the cricketers’ outing in Malaysia is a reward for seven years of hard work and grassroots development tailored towards global acclaim.
“I am confident in the ability of the girls to excel and I believe they would use this tournament to announce their arrival on the scene and make Nigeria proud,” Akpata said.
The Junior Female Yellow-Greens next faces South Africa on Wednesday.
