Tension ran high at the TCA Cricket Arena in Dar-es-Salaam as the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2026 Final delivered an absolute thriller. Nigeria Under-19 and Zimbabwe Under-19 locked horns in a high-stakes clash, with both sides eager to punch their ticket to the global stage. With disciplined bowling, nervy runouts, and crucial middle-order stands, the game ebbed and flowed right down to the final over.
Winning the toss and batting first, the Nigeria Under-19 innings got off to a bumpy start as opener Omosigho Eguakun was run out for 4 off 10 balls (1 four), leaving Nigeria at 8/1 in the second over. The struggle continued when Chisom Okpe managed just 5 off 14 balls (1 four) before Christine Mutasa caught and bowled her, sending Nigeria to 16/2. Jessica Bieni joined hands with Beauty Oguai to rebuild the innings with a steadying 38-run partnership. Bieni ground out 15 runs off 25 balls (2 fours) before being run out to leave Nigeria at 54/3. Oguai continued to fight, anchoring the top order with 19 off 35 balls (2 fours) before falling to Tadiwa Garutsa, making it 63/4.
As the overs slipped away, Nigeria needed a strong finish. Shola Adekunle added 5 off 13 balls before a run-out pushed the score to 83/5. Captain Christabel Chukwuonye took charge, blazing a crucial 21 off just 19 balls, hitting 3 boundaries to lift the scoring rate. After Chukwuonye was clean-bowled by Mutasa on the final ball, keeper-batter Deborah Bassey provided a fiery late cameo, smashing an unbeaten 10 off only 4 balls (2 fours). Nigeria capped their 20 overs at 98/6.
For Zimbabwe Under-19, Christine Mutasa led the attack with brilliant figures of 2/11 in 4 overs (including a maiden). Tadiwa Garutsa was equally tight, conceding just 8 runs in 4 overs for 1 wicket. Meanwhile, Beloved Biza (0/17 in 4), Salem Museka (0/16 in 4), Buhlebenkosi Maposa (0/23 in 3), and Vanessa Mayedza (0/10 in 1) supported the bowling effort.
Zimbabwe Under-19’s chase began with intent, as openers Nicolette Nyika and Christine Mutasa put on 27 runs. Nyika scored 18 off 19 balls (3 fours) and Mutasa added 13 off 14 balls (3 fours). However, Usen Peace turned the game on its head in the fifth over, removing Nyika (27/1) and captain Lorraine Pemhiwa for a 2-ball duck (27/2). Shola Adekunle then knocked over Mutasa for 13, leaving Zimbabwe reeling at 32/3. Jennifer Godwin struck soon after, removing Beloved Biza (5 off 7) to leave the score at 37/4, before registering a stumped dismissal against Tadiwa Garutsa (1 off 3) to reduce Zimbabwe to 38/5.
Refusing to throw in the towel, Bethel Zinyama and Salem Museka mounted a gritty 47-run recovery partnership. Museka led the fightback with a top-score of 27 off 32 balls (3 fours), while Zinyama anchored her end with a patient 21 off 31 balls (1 four). Just as Zimbabwe looked set to seal the game, Annointed Akhigbe broke the dangerous stand by bowling Museka at 85/6 in the 18th over.
The match exploded into chaos in the closing overs. In the penultimate over, Zinyama was run out for 21 (92/7). Buhlebenkosi Maposa added 1 before another run-out brought the score to 93/8. Godwin immediately clean-bowled Sharmaine Manyukwi for a golden duck (93/9). With 5 runs needed off the final over, Naomi Mhlekwa remained stranded on 1* off 4 balls, as Akhigbe castled Vanessa Mayedza for a 5-ball duck on the 19.5 mark. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 94.
Usen Peace was the standout bowler for Nigeria, taking 3/19 in 4 overs. Jennifer Godwin picked up 2/11 in 3 overs, while Annointed Akhigbe claimed 2/15 in 2.5 overs to close out the match. Shola Adekunle contributed 1/15 in 4 overs, with Chisom Okpe (0/11 in 2) and Chukwuonye (0/21 in 4) keeping things tight. Nigeria Under-19 snatched a dramatic 4-run victory, successfully defending their total to reign supreme in the Africa Qualifier Final.
Loves all things female cricket