Lilian Ude posted impressive figures of three for 11 with the ball to consistently stymie Ireland’s chase of 95, after Christabel Chukwuonye led a steady innings with the bat for Nigeria.
Ude also contributed a quickfire 12 with the bat at the death alongside 17 runs each from Peculiar Agboya and Omosigho Eguakun, and that proved crucial in taking the game away from Ireland.
Opener Rebecca Lowe led the response with 21 for Ireland, but the steady fall of wickets ultimately proved key in earning victory for Nigeria in Bangi.
It was Nigeria’s second victory of the tournament, after they also beat New Zealand by two runs at their first-ever ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, to seal third place in Super Six Group 2.
Chukwuonye anchors Nigerian innings
Ireland began brightly with the ball after putting Nigeria in to bat, finding a breakthrough in the opening over as Victory Igbinedion was run out by Abbi Harrison without scoring. Muhibat Amusa followed the next over for five after she was bowled by Kia McCartney to leave her side six for two.
Opener Christabel Chukwuonye then settled her side’s innings, finding her first boundary of the match off Jennifer Jackson. She was a steady presence despite wickets continuing to regularly fall, with Freya Sargent dismissing captain, Piety Lucky for four before Lara McBride claimed the wicket of Adeshola Adekunle.
That put Nigeria at 21 for four but Chukwuonye responded with two boundaries off McBride, and formed a strong partnership with Omosigho Eguakun until Chukwuonye fell in the 14th over for 25, caught off McCartney.
Eguakun and Peculiar Agboya then combined for useful contributions of 17 each before Ellie McGee bowled Eguakun, and Lillian Ude added 12 at the death to set Ireland 95 for victory.
Steady wickets stem Ireland chase
Nigeria also struck early with the ball, with Usen Peace bowling opener Alice Walsh for zero with the fourth ball of the innings.
Freya Sargent and Rebecca Lowe steadied the ship after that early blow, forming a partnership of 30 until Lilian Ude had Sargent caught behind for 14 in the final ball of the powerplay. Lilian struck again to dismiss Annabel Squires for one, with Muhibat Amusa taking an impressive catch at backward square leg.
Nigeria continued to take regular wickets to increase the pressure on the Ireland chase, with Lara McBride caught for zero off Adeshola Adekunle and Anointed Akhigbe striking to take the wicket of Abbi Harrison for two. Akhigbe then earned the vital wicket of Lowe for 21 in the same over as Ireland slipped to 54 for six.
Ireland dug in through Niamh MacNulty and Millie Spence, but the pair then fell quickly with MacNulty trapped leg before by Peace and Spence bowled by Lilian.
Kia McCartney and Ellie McGee looked to creep Ireland towards their total with 21 runs still required, and produced some steady singles until McGee departed for one, out leg before to Piety Lucky.
McCartney continued to fight and found a key boundary through mid-wicket but was eventually bowled by Amusa as Nigeria sealed a six-run victory.
Scores in brief
Nigeria v Ireland – UKM-YSD Cricket Oval, Bangi
Nigeria 94 for seven in 20 overs (Christabel Chukwuonye 25, Peculiar Agboya 17; Kia McCartney 2/13, Niamh MacNulty 1/12)
Ireland 88 all out in 18.4 overs (Rebecca Lowe 21, Millie Spence 14; Lilian Ude 3/11, Anointed 2/8)
Result: Nigeria win by six runs
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