Nigeria and USA claimed their first-ever ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup victories on a thrilling day.
Nigeria beat 2023 semi-finalists New Zealand by two runs while the USA defeated Ireland by nine wickets.
Australia enacted revenge over Bangladesh with a nervy final-over win for their second win of the tournament.
Nigeria make history with joyous maiden win
Nigeria provided the first shock of the tournament as they defeated New Zealand by two runs in their first-ever World Cup game.
Having seen their first game washed out, Nigeria finally got on the park in Sarawak in a reduced 13-over match.
Captain Lucky Piety led the charge scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup six, but New Zealand hit back, applying the squeeze and claiming two wickets to see Nigeria slip to 28 for three after the powerplay.
Lilian Ude top-scored with 19 before a four off the final ball from Omosigho Eguakun saw Nigeria set New Zealand 66 to win.
The Junior Yellow Greens took their first World Cup wicket off their first ball as Kate Irwin was run out without facing before her opening partner Emma McLeod was dismissed for three.
Eve Wolland and Anika Todd scored patiently but their dismissals gave Nigeria renewed hope.
Ude bowled a perfect final over, conceding only six runs with a run out on the final ball as Nigeria claimed a special and historic win.
USA make their own history with Ireland win
Three wickets for Isani Vaghela and 46 runs from Disha Dhingra saw the USA to an impressive nine-wicket win over Ireland in Johor.
Alice Walsh scored 15 of the Ireland’s first 16 runs before becoming her side’s first wicket as she was bowled by Aditi Chudasama.
The off-spinner took the first and last wickets in the innings, with Vaghela picking up three wickets for 10 as she ran through the middle order, leaving Ireland at 59 for seven in the 14th over.
Ireland were eventually all out for 74 and the USA made light work of the chase with history in their sights.
Dhingra led the charge making 46 from 33 balls with seven boundaries before she was bowled by Lara McBride to end a 75-run opening partnership with Chetna Reddy Pagydyala.
A first-ball four from Vaghela sealed the momentous victory for the USA by nine wickets inside 10 overs.
Australia get revenge over Bangladesh
Australia defeated Bangladesh by two wickets in a nervy contest to avenge their defeat in the 2023 tournament.
Having been put into bat, Bangladesh were building slowly before two wickets for Eleanor Larosa saw them slip to 18 for three in the fourth over.
Afia Ashima Era was the lynchpin for Bangladesh, departing on the final ball of the innings having scored 29 with three boundaries as Bangladesh posted 91 for nine.
In their chase, Ines McKeon scored three boundaries in a row before being run out for 14 having survived being dropped on the same delivery in an eventful third over.
Australia picked up regular boundaries thanks to Lucy Hamilton but lost five wickets for 17 runs as Jannatul Maoua took three huge wickets.
Bangladesh were in the ascendancy but nerves of steel from Ella Briscoe and Tegan Williamson saw Australia squeak home with four balls to spare.
Scores in brief
Australia v Bangladesh – UKM YSD Oval, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Bangladesh 91/9 in 20 overs (Afia Ashima Era 29, Mst Sumaiya Akther Suborna 13; Tegan Williamson 2/12, Caoimhe Bray 2/18)
Australia 92/8 in 19.2 overs (Lucy Hamilton 30, Kate Pelle 16; Jannatul Maoua 3/15, Habiba Islam Pinky 1/12)
Result: Australia won by two wickets
Ireland v USA – Dato’ Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA) Oval, Johor, Malaysia
Ireland 75 all out in 17.4 overs (Alice Walsh 16, Lara McBride 13; Isani Vaghela 3/10, Ritu Singh 2/8)
USA 79/1 in 9.4 overs (Disha Dhingra 46, Chetna Reddy Pagydyala 23 not out; Lara McBride 1/9)
Result: USA won by nine wickets
New Zealand v Nigeria – Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak, Malaysia
Nigeria 65/6 in 14 overs (Lilian Ude 19, Piety Lucky 18; Hannah Francis 1/4, Anika Tauwhare 1/6)
New Zealand 63/6 in 13 overs (Anika Todd 19, Tash Wakelin 18; Peace Usen 1/5, Piety Lucky 1/8)
Result: Nigeria won by two runs
Snow Cream
Sport Trivia: Which South African swimmer was the first woman ever to win both the 100m and 200m Olympic breaststroke event, this was achieved at the 1996 Olympics? Answer: Penny Heyns. Penny Heyns is regarded as one of the best breaststroke swimmers ever. At the Atlanta Olympics, she won her first gold for the 100 metres breaststroke in a world record time of 1:07:02 and her second gold in the 200 metres in an Olympic record time of 2:25:41.
Twisty Dew
Sport Trivia: Who played against South Africa in their first official One Day International in 1991/92? Answer: India – South Africa\’s return to International Cricket saw them tour India in the 1991/92 season. The official tour consisted of 3 ODI\’s against India which were the first ever official ODIs played by South Africa. The result of the tour was a series win by India 2-1.