Nigeria stun New Zealand to set tournament alight

Nigeria stunned New Zealand to post their maiden victory at the Women’s Under-19 World Cup. This was their first completed game in their maiden Under-19 World Cup appearance after their first match was washed out on Saturday.

In a rain-affected game reduced to 13 overs a side, Nigeria scored 65 for 6 with contributions from captain Piety Lucky and Lillian Udeh.  The chase started with New Zealand losing their opener Kate Irwin first ball to a run-out. Emma McLeod, the other opener, departed in the third over off the right-arm seamer Usen Peace’s bowling. New Zealand kept losing wickets in the middle overs and were 49 for 5 at the end of 11 overs.

With 17 needed, the penultimate over fetched New Zealand eight runs with captain Tash Wakelin hitting a four off the last ball of the over. New Zealand needed nine off the final over but only managed only six runs off Udeh, as Nigeria sealed a thrilling two-run triumph.

Anika Todd and Wakelin made 19 and 18 respectively but that wasn’t enough for New Zealand.

Brief scores:
Nigeria Women Under 19 65/6 in 13 overs [Lillian Udeh 18, Lucky Piety 19; Anika Tauwhare 1-06, Hannah O’conner 1-11, Anika Todd 1-18, Tash Wakelin 1-06, Hannah Francis 1-04] beat New Zealand Women Under 19 63/6 in 13 overs [Eve Wolland 14, Anika Todd 19, Tash Wakelin 18; Usen Peace 1-05, Adeshola Adekunle 1-14, Lillian Udeh 1-08] by 2 runs