Lillian Ude delivered a match-winning performance as Nigeria concluded their 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a thrilling six-run victory over Ireland in their final Super 6 match on Wednesday.

Ude was named Player of the Match for her exceptional bowling, taking three wickets for just 11 runs, playing a pivotal role in stifling Ireland’s chase of 95. She also contributed 12 runs off 11 balls with the bat, complementing the crucial 17-run contributions from Peculiar Agboya and Omosigho Eguakun.

After winning the toss, Ireland opted to field first, allowing Nigeria to set a competitive total through a steady team effort led by Christabel Chukwuonye.

Ireland’s chase got off to a rocky start as Peace Usen dismissed opener Alice Walsh for a duck in the first over. Despite a brief recovery, Ude struck twice, dismissing Freya Sargent (14) and Annabel Squires (1). Additional breakthroughs by Adeshola Adekunle, Anointed Akhigbe, and Amusa kept Ireland under pressure, eventually restricting them to 88 all out, securing victory for Nigeria.

Reflecting on her performance, Ude expressed her excitement, saying:
“I was a little nervous at first, but with the support of my teammates, we pulled through. I learned a lot and look forward to more tournaments like this.”

This victory marked Nigeria’s second win of the tournament, having previously stunned New Zealand by two runs. The team’s impressive campaign earned them third place in Super Six Group 2 and a top-six finish overall, guaranteeing automatic qualification for the 2027 edition in Nepal and Bangladesh.