The ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 reaches its final day of the Super Six phase with the semi-finalists already decided. Match 11 will see a face-off between Nigeria and Ireland, two teams aiming to conclude their campaigns with a win. Ireland’s last game ended in a rain-curtailed defeat against South Africa, while Nigeria’s two matches, including the latest one against England, were abandoned due to rain. This intriguing clash is set for January 29, 2025, at 08:00 AM IST, and will be held at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi.
Squads:
Nigeria Women’s U19 cricket team:
Lucky Piety, Peculiar Agboya, Adeshola Adekunle, Annointed Akhigbe, Muhibat Amusa, Deborah Bassey, Jessica Bieni, Christabel Chukwuonye, Omosigho Eguakun, Victory Igbinedion, Naomi Memeh, Beauty Oguai, Usen Peace, Lillian Udeh, Inyene Umoh
Ireland Women’s U19 cricket team:
Niamh MacNulty, Ally Boucher, Abbi Harrison, Jennifer Jackson, Rebecca Lowe, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Kia McCartney, Ellie McGee, Julie McNally, Lucy Neely, Freya Sargent, Millie Spence, Annabel Squires, Alice Walsh
Players to watch out:
Annointed Akhigbe:
Akhigbe, a 17-year-old all-rounder, has shown glimpses of her potential in the T20I format, scoring 72 runs in six matches at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 79.12. Although she hasn’t been heavily involved in the current tournament, she’ll look to leave a lasting impression in this match.
Usen Peace:
At just 16, Usen has already made a mark as a pacer. In nine T20Is, she has claimed six wickets, with her standout performance in the Africa Qualifier yielding seven wickets in five games at an economy rate of 3.59. Her tournament highlights include bowling figures of 1/8 and 1/17 in warm-ups, along with a match-winning 1/5 in the Group stage against New Zealand.
Niamh MacNulty:
MacNulty has been a consistent performer for Ireland, delivering impactful spells in warm-up games, including 3/14 against Malaysia and 1/9 against MCA Invitation XI, where she also contributed an unbeaten 15 off 11. Though she’s been wicketless in recent matches, she’ll be eager to finish the tournament strongly.
Freya Sargent:
An experienced off-spinner, the 18-year-old has taken 28 wickets in as many international games with the best of 3/29. Sargent’s prowess was evident in U19 matches, producing figures of 3/3 and 5/12 against Jersey. In this tournament, she’s had a mixed bag with figures of 1/41 against England, 0/8 and 1/7 against Pakistan, and 0/7 against South Africa. She’s also a reliable lower-order batter.
Pitch:
The YSD-UKM Cricket Oval offers a balanced track with assistance for pacers, making it challenging for batters to score freely. A target around 130 is expected to be competitive. Teams bowling first might have the upper hand due to the pitch’s unpredictable behavior.
Weather:
The weather is expected to remain clear, with temperatures around 33°C and humidity at 69%. Light winds will prevail, and while clouds may hover, no rain is predicted. Both teams will be keen to make the most of the playing conditions.
Fantasy playing XI:
Freya Sargent, Jennifer Jackson, Ellie McGee, Niamh MacNulty, Lara McBride, Alice Walsh, Lucky Piety, Adeshola Adekunle, Usen Peace, Abbi Harrison, Annabel Squires
Match details:
Date: January 29, 2025
Time: 08:00 AM IST
Venue: YSD-UKM Cricket Oval, Bangi
Live Streaming: Available on Hotstar for Indian viewers.
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