Henrietta Ishimwe’s outstanding performance helped Rwanda, host of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Memorial Cricket Tournament to win their first title in nine years after defeating Uganda last Saturday.
Before the finals, Uganda women, the best ranked team in the 2023 edition of the genocide victims remembrance cricket events were table toppers while Rwanda shared same point with Nigeria.
The playoffs was unpredictable as Uganda women were restricted by Rwanda to play only 65 runs and all out in 20 overs. It was definitely going the way of Rwanda as they finished the game with 66 runs in 16.1 overs to win by 6 wickets.
It was a country’s first party to celebrate their decision to forget about the 1994 hate inspired genocide with first ever victory at the Kwibuka finals.
Henrietta took 16 wickets, the highest number in this year’s championship while Kenya’s Queentor Abel played the highest runs of 206 followed by Nigeria’s teenager, Lucky Piety. Esther Sandy and Salome Sunday were Nigeria’s subsequent top batters.
Sarah Uwerah a long standing member of the Rwanda team expressed excitement for not just winning the trophy but taking it from Uganda.
“I feels very happy to be part of the team that has won the first trophy Rwanda after nine years of hosting. “It’s really good to be part of it. At least I can say I got the chance to life the trophy high up before I retire.”
Nigeria had earlier lost poorly to four times Champions, Kenya in the 3rd place match. Kenya scored 99/3 and Nigeria’s chase only ended 51/10. Kenya’s Queentor Abel batted 66runs while Lucky Piety and Esther Sandy played 17 and 12 runs.
At the award presentation ceremony, Rwanda’s
Henriette Ishimwe, won the Best Bowler Award while Best batter was Queentor Abel
Best fielder award went to Lorna Anyait of Uganda while
MVP of the 2023 Kwibuka Women’s T20 was Queentor Abel.
