Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens made a triumphant debut at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, securing a thrilling two-run victory over New Zealand on Monday.
The match, which had been delayed by rain in Sarawak, saw a repeat of the same weather challenges faced during Saturday’s game against Samoa.
However, the Nigerian team wasn’t deterred, with the match starting more than two hours later than scheduled, and reduced to fewer overs.
New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first, sending Nigeria’s batters to the crease.
Captain Lucky Piety led by example, hitting Nigeria’s first-ever six in a Women’s World Cup. Piety’s steady performance helped the Junior Yellow Greens post a total of 65 runs for the loss of six wickets in 13 overs.
With the ball in hand, Sarah Bakhita’s team stayed calm and focused in the second inning. Their disciplined bowling effort proved effective, as they dismissed New Zealand for just 63 runs, also losing six wickets, to seal a memorable win.