By Lucky van Rukundo
The 2024 Kwibuka Women T20 tournament finals saw Uganda beating Zimbabwe by two runs while hosts Rwanda go past Nigeria by six wickets to secure the third place at Gahanga cricket stadium on Saturday, June 8.
- Final: Uganda 80/8 (20 overs) vs Zimbabwe 78/10 (19.5 overs): Uganda won by two runs
- Third place: Nigeria 80/9 (20 overs) vs Rwanda 81/4 (16.3 overs): Rwanda win by six wickets
Uganda captain Janet Mbabazi took five wickets for 15 runs in four overs, while Proscovia Alako scored 26 off 24 balls as Uganda claimed their third title.
Uganda and Zimbabwe served a worthwhile final that, from the first inning to the last ball of the second, kept swinging for either team, and went down to the wire, with Uganda prevailing on the last ball of the match.
Uganda batted first and made 80 for eight wickets in 20 overs. Alako top-scored with 24 off 26 balls, Rita Musamali had 25 off 27 and Ariokat Malisa (10 off 16).
At one point, Uganda were 7/3 after four overs but Alako, Rita Musamali (15 off 17) and Ariokat Malisa (10 off 16) brought the stability that laid the ground for Uganda to get to 80.
Christina Mutasa (2-7-3) and Kudzai Kelly Chigora (2-9-3) made their presence noticed as Zimbabwe put themselves in a seemingly health position to win the title on their debut appearance.
It was almost the perfect first inning for the southern African side who, unfortunately, ended up falling short by just two runs.
In reply, three of Zimbabwe batters scored in double figures, with Loryn Phiri (27 off 43) top-scoring, while Teresa Chiyedza notched 22 off 26 and Kelis Ndhlovu was out for 10 off 16 balls.
Uganda captain Mbababi, after failing to score with the bat (0-6), did respond with the ball, finishing with figure of 5-10-4. Four Zimbabwe batters were out for naught.
But it was left to young spin bowler Lorna Anyait, who picked her only and match-winning wicket of Passionate Munorwei (2 off 1) with the very last ball of the inning to send Ugandan players and fans into wild jubilation.
It is Uganda’s third Kwibuka title and their first since 2016. It was also their first title for coach Lawrence Samatimba whose side finished third in 2022 after losing to Rwanda in the final last year. Kenya have won it four times.
The final was attended by among others, the Zimbabwean High Commissioner to Rwanda, Her Excellency Charity Manyeruke, who was the guest of honor and she handed over the trophy to the winners.
Elsewhere, on a day that favoured bowlers, Alice Akuzwe finished with impressive figures of 4-13-4 whereas Henriette Ishimwe scored 26 off 32 as Rwanda settled for third.
Nigeria, who beat Rwanda earlier in the week, won the toss and opted to bat, but they were 80 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Only Etim Sarah Ekwere (21 off 22) and Annointed Akhigbe (14 off 22) reached double figures as Rwanda bowlers, led by Ikuzwe, did the damage with the ball.
Ishimwe took 3 wickets for 16 runs from 4 overs and Rosine Irera claimed 1-15-3. Set 81 to win, all Rwanda batters put enough runs on the scorecard enroute to an easy win.
Opener and skipper Marie Diane Bimenyimana scored 18, including three 4s off 21 balls, Gisele Ishimwe (12 off 22), Clarisse Umutoniwase (10 off 17), Shakila Niyomuhoza (5 off 17) and Merveille Uwase (4 off 3).
It was not the desired finish for Leonard Nhamburo’s team, who came into the tournament bidding for a second title in a decade, but given the nature of opposition in Uganda and Zimbabwe, third is not bad after all.
“We are disappointed not to reach the final but overall, we are happy (to take third place). It was a good experience for the girls,” Nhamburo told Times Sport.
The annual Kwibuka T20 Women International tournament is organized by the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee in corraboration with Rwanda Cricket Association to remember the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Individual honours
Zimbabwe all-rounder Ndhlovu was named the tournament Most Valuable Player (298 runs and 11 wickets), ahead of Rwanda”s Henriette Ishimwe (112 runs and 17 wickets).
Ndhlovu also took the best batter award with 298 runs, while Nigerian Lilian Ude claimed the best bowler with 18 wickets, one better than Ishimwe.
Alice Ikuzwe was fourth in the bowlers ranking with 15 wickets, and Rwanda captain Bimenyimana was 7th in the batters ranking with 177 runs from 8 matches.
She was picked as captain of the team of the team tournament that Included three Zimbabweans, two Rwandan, two Ugandans, two Botswanans, two Nigerians and one Kenyan.
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