Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens have set their sights on their next match against New Zealand after abandoning their much-anticipated 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup opener against Samoa. The game, scheduled for Saturday, was called off due to an unplayable wet outfield at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Both teams, eager to make their tournament debuts, were forced to share the points, postponing their chance to shine on the global stage. Nigeria will now face New Zealand on Monday in the first of two Group C fixtures for the day, while Samoa will take on group leaders, South Africa.
Despite the setback, Nigeria head coach Sarah Bakhita maintained a positive outlook, emphasizing the team’s focus on their ultimate goal. “The game didn’t go as we anticipated, but we focus on what we can control. We’re looking forward to the next match. We are playing cricket, not a specific team. Going into the next game, we’ll give it our all, knowing what’s at stake. Our goal is to qualify for the semifinals and ensure we perform at our best,” she said.
Team captain Lucky Piety also highlighted the importance of securing a point from the abandoned match. “A point is a point, and it’s a significant step forward for us,” Piety remarked.
Nigeria’s Monday opponents, New Zealand, suffered a 22-run defeat to South Africa hours after Nigeria’s abandoned game. With South Africa leading Group C with two points, Nigeria and Samoa are tied in second place, followed by New Zealand in fourth.
Meanwhile, in other tournament matches, Australia’s Caoimhe Bray delivered a standout performance on her debut, helping Australia secure victory over Scotland.
England’s batters impressed, but rain forced their match against Ireland to be abandoned after just 3.5 overs of Ireland’s chase. Similarly, the clash between Pakistan and the United States was abandoned due to rain.
In another Group C fixture, Bangladesh claimed a five-wicket victory over Nepal to kick off their campaign on a high note.
