Cricket: Nigeria U-19 girls win World Cup qualifier opener

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Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens made a winning start to their 2027 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 campaign, defeating Uganda U-19 Women by four wickets in a tense, low-scoring opening encounter in Tanzania, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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After Uganda won the toss and elected to bat, Nigeria’s disciplined bowling attack kept the Ugandan batters under sustained pressure, restricting them to 59 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.

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Shadiah Gilingish Nabulime top-scored for Uganda with 22 runs from 34 balls, while Jimia Abdallah Mohamed contributed 13 runs from 25 deliveries.

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Nigeria’s bowling unit delivered an impressive collective performance, led by Chisom Okpe, who claimed two wickets for just four runs in four overs, while Peace Usen returned figures of two wickets for 12 runs.

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With 60 runs required for victory, Nigeria’s chase appeared under control before Uganda’s Tino Sarah produced a remarkable spell that brought the contest to life.

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Sarah claimed five wickets for 13 runs in four overs, including two maiden overs, as Nigeria lost wickets at regular intervals.

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Despite the pressure, the Junior Female Yellow Greens showed composure and determination to complete the chase.
nOmosigho Eguakun provided the foundation for the innings with a patient 24 off 29 balls, while captain Christabel Chukwuonye supplied an important attacking contribution, scoring 13 from 10 deliveries, including three boundaries.

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Nigeria’s campaign in the Africa Qualifier continues as the team looks to build on the opening result and push for a return to the World Cup after their record-breaking outing in Malaysia last year.

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Their next game is against Malawi on Monday (today), as they seek to secure early passage into the semi-finals.
nTheir final group game will be against hosts Tanzania on Wednesday, September 2.n

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A top-two finish will see them through to the semi-finals, where they will face one of the teams from Group B, comprising Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.

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The winner of the tournament will join South Africa in representing Africa at the main event in 2027.

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South Africa have already secured one of Africa’s qualification spots after finishing among the top four teams at the previous edition of the World Cup, which India won.

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