Nigeria’s female U-19 cricket team, the Junior Female Yellow Greens, have been pumped up by their two runs win over 2023 semi-finalists, New Zealand, as they marked their ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup debut in style on Monday, The PUNCH reports.
Having seen their first game, which was supposed to be against Samoa, washed out on Saturday, Nigeria’s buzzing stars finally got a taste of the action in a reduced 13-over game due to the wet surface.
Player of The Match, Lucky Piety, who hit 18 runs off 22 balls plus a sharp bowling spell of one wicket for just eight runs in three overs described the win as special.
“This is a very special moment for us. There were a lot of catches and a lot of running between the wickets that I could not have done alone. Well played by the team, everyone did their best and it was a collective effort from everybody,” Piety said via ICC Media Zone.
“With our resources, we have been able to pull off this win, and it has been teamwork. Our strategy in the Nigeria camp is one game at a time; we have taken one, and there is still more to come.”
Head coach of the team, Sarah Bakhita, also reflected on the team’s tactical discipline against the fourth-ranked nation in the world.
“It felt so good, we knew that it was never in doubt and making it happen was big. The second innings was quite nerve-wracking, and one thing about our team is a solid bowling attack. We analysed some of their strengths, and the girls played to what we discussed,” the Kenyan said after the win.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, also celebrated the team’s win.
“This is the first time West of Africa will have a presence at a global cricket tournament, and we at the NSC are proud of our young women for achieving this feat and indeed putting Nigeria on the global map,” Dikko wrote via X.
“All the very best to the entire team at the World Cup, and we will be with you all the way.”
Nigeria are now second in Group C with three points, one point adrift of leaders South Africa, who brushed aside Samoa by 10 wickets for their second win of the tournament.
Both Nigeria and South Africa are in good positions to advance into the Super 6 stage of the tournament but they will face off Wednesday to decide who finishes on top of the group.