Nigeria led by skipper Lucy Piety stunned the junior White Ferns by 2 runs in a rain-curtailed encounter in the 3rd game of the group and the 11th match of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup 2025. South Africa led by skipper Kayla Reyneke breezed past Samoa by 10 wickets in the 4th game of the group and the 14th match of the ongoing 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025, in Malaysia.
We are into the 5th and penultimate day of the league stages of the tournament, which promised to be another action-packed day of cricketing action in Malaysia as most of the teams are eying to book their spots for the Super Six stage of the tournament. New Zealand led by skipper Tash Wakelin was up against Samoa led by skipper Avetia Mapu in the 5th game of the group and the 19th match of the tournament at the Sarawak Cricket Ground, Sarawak. South Africa led by skipper Kayla Reyneke was up against Nigeria led by skipper Lucky Piety in the 6th game of the group and the 22nd game of the tournament.
Eve Wolland, bowlers power New Zealand to the Super Six with a dominating win
The game between these sides New Zealand and Samoa had a delayed start. As a result, the game had to be curtailed to a 17-overs per-side contest. The Samoan new-ball bowlers got their side off to a dream start, removing the White Ferns top-order inside the first three overs of the innings after skipper Avetia Mapu won the toss and opted to field first.
Eve Wolland joined Anika Todd at the crease and the duo counter-attacked with a crucial 55-run partnership for the 4th wicket. Skipper Avetia Mapu broke the standby removing Anika Todd (27 off 19 balls) in the 10th over of the innings. The partnership infused the much-needed momentum to the New Zealand innings after an early setback. New Zealand eventually posted a competitive total of 107/9 in their quota of 17 overs.
Eve Wolland (48 off 43 balls) fell just two runs short of her well-deserved half-century, and she was also the top-scorer with the bat, along with Emma McLeod (11 off 7 balls), playing a handy cameo for New Zealand. Olive Lefaga (4-0-13-3) was exceptional with the ball, alongside Masina Tafea (3-0-10-1), and Verra Farane (3-0-17-2), providing brilliant support with the ball from the other end for Samoa.
Chasing a challenging total of 108, the Samoan batters succumbed to the scoreboard pressure and courtesy of an immaculate bowling display from the White Ferns attack, Samoa were bundled out for just 40 with 16 balls to spare. None of the Samoan batters entered the double digits and survived more than 20 balls at the crease, as a result, falling 67 runs short of the target.
Skipper Tash Wakelin led from the front with the ball, with exceptional match figures of 2.2-0-3-3. Rishika Jaswal (4-2-12-3), Sophie Court (3-2-5-2), and Hannah O’Connor (2-0-10-1) provided sensational support from the other end with the ball for New Zealand. Eve Wolland was awarded the Player of the Match (48 off 43 balls), playing a crucial role in helping her side seal their berth in the Super Six stages of the tournament despite only a win.
Simone Lourens and Seshnie Naidu power South Africa to another comprehensive win
The South African openers Simone Lourens (25 off 29 balls) and Jemma Botha (10* off 15 balls) got their side off to a steady start with a 41-run opening partnership after the Nigerian skipper Lucky Piety won the toss and inserted the Proteas to bat first. Skipper Lucky Piety broke the opening stand by removing Simone Lourens (25 off 29 balls), just before the rains arrived in the 8th over of the innings.
The rain gods ensured some cricket, with the game reduced to an 8 overs per side contest. Skipper Lucky Piety cleaned up the opposition skipper Kayla Reyneke on the first ball after the game resumed. However, a couple of back-to-back boundaries from the wicket-keeper batter Karabo Meso propelled them to 49/2 in their quota of 8 overs. Skipper Lucky Piety (1-0-12-2) stood out with the ball, even though she was expensive and Muhibat Amusa (3-0-10-0) was impressive with the ball for Nigeria.
The target was revised to 66 for Nigeria in their bid to seal another memorable victory. A spirited show from the South African bowlers, restricted Nigeria to 24/8 in their quota of 8 overs, to seal the game with a comprehensive 41-run margin. None of the Nigerian batters entered into the double digits.
Seshnie Naidu (1-0-1-2), and skipper Kayla Reyneke (2-0-13-2) picked up a couple of wickets each, while Nthabiseng Nini (2-0-2-1), and Mieke van Voorst (1-0-3-1) were impressive with the ball for South Africa. Seshnie Naidu was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional spell of 1-0-1-2.
Loves all things female cricket
