Rwanda stays unbeaten with six-wicket win over Nigeria at Women’s T20I Invitational

By Mishael Emmanuel 

 

 

 

Rwanda maintained their unbeaten run at the Nigeria Women Invitational T20I Tournament with a composed six-wicket victory over hosts Nigeria at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval on Tuesday.

In a highly anticipated encounter, Nigeria struggled to build momentum after opting to bat, eventually getting bowled out for 90 in 19.1 overs. 

Despite a promising start, the hosts failed to convert key moments into a competitive total, leaving Rwanda with a modest target to chase.

Rwanda’s disciplined approach in the field proved decisive.

Their bowlers applied consistent pressure, while sharp fielding further restricted Nigeria’s scoring opportunities.

A standout moment came when captain Diane Bimenyimana produced a brilliant catch that halted Nigeria’s progress at a crucial stage.

Chasing 91 for victory, Rwanda showed resilience and composure throughout their innings. 

They carefully managed the chase, navigating pressure situations with calculated batting. 

From needing 89 runs off 114 balls to 62 off 78, the visitors remained in control.

Henriette Ishimwe led the charge with an explosive 32 off 18 balls, guiding her side towards the finish line. 

She was well supported by Clarisse Umutoniwase, who scored 17 off 26 deliveries, and Fanny Utagushimaninde, who added a quick 15 off just eight balls.

The winning moment came in emphatic fashion, as Ishimwe sealed the victory with Rwanda requiring just three runs from 14 balls. 

Rwanda reached 93 for 4 in 15.4 overs, completing a comfortable chase and reinforcing their status as tournament contenders.

For Nigeria, Esther Sandy was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 36 off 31 balls to provide some resistance in an otherwise challenging outing for the hosts.

Rwanda head coach Leonard Nhamburo expressed satisfaction with the result but stressed the importance of continued improvement.

“Obviously, I am happy with the win. We are looking to improve on the mistakes we’ve made in all areas. We have discussed it as a team where we need to do better in the remaining games,” he said.

Nhamburo also underscored the need for better game management under pressure, noting that fine margins could prove decisive in tougher contests ahead.

“There are one or two areas that need to be sorted out. It’s not that the players are not good, but it’s about understanding how to handle pressure in games like this,” he added.

With momentum firmly on their side, Rwanda will be confident heading into their remaining fixtures, as they continue their push for the tournament title.