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Match Summary
Rwanda 114 all out in 19.5 overs
Uganda 116/2 in 16.3 overs
Uganda won by 8 wickets
Uganda secured a crucial eight-wicket win over Rwanda at the HPC Oval during the ongoing ICC Womens T20 qulaifiers in Namibia, maintaining pressure in the tightly contested Group B of the tournament.
Rwanda won the toss and elected to bat first, getting off to a decent start.
However, they suffered an early setback when their captain fell in the second over.
Uganda made one change to their lineup, bringing in Sarah Akiteng for Naume Jane Amongin.
The standout moment for Uganda came when skipper Janet Mbabazi removed the dangerous Gisele Ishimwe, who had looked threatening with a 33-ball 41.
The Ishimwe’s partnership had been Rwanda’s strongest until that point.
Fielding lapses early on, including a dropped catch of Henriette Ishimwe (36 off 31), proved costly for Uganda as Rwanda reached 99/5 after 16 overs and brought up their 100 in the 17th. But Uganda rallied late, with Irene Mutoni shining in the 19th over.
She claimed two vital wickets—Belise Murekatete and Rosette Shimwamana—while conceding just a single run.
Poor shot selection from Rwanda led to their eventual collapse, being bowled out for 114 in 19.5 overs.
Notably, Uganda bowled a much more disciplined innings, conceding no extras, a stark contrast to the 19 extras given away in their previous match.
In the chase, Uganda suffered an early blow, losing opener Esther Iloku on the fourth ball of the first over.
Rwanda’s opening bowlers Rosine Irera and Shimwamana Rosette applied pressure in the powerplay, with Rosine even delivering a maiden over.
Gisele Ishimwe made amends for her earlier missed chance by taking a catch to remove Janet Mbabazi, leaving Uganda at 27/2 after the powerplay.
However, the tide turned in the 13th over after a costly misfieldsby Rwanda and an expensive over from Geovanise Uwase that went for 15 runs.
Uganda surged to 81/2 and brought up their 100 in the 16th.
Rita Musamali (47*) and Immaculate Nakisuyi (43) guided their team home in the 17th over.
Rwanda’s misfields costed them the game, and clearly Uganda loves pace on so maybe Rwanda playing an extra spinner in Sylivie Usabyimana could have helped them to keep pressure all through in the game.
After the match, Mbabazi praised Rwanda’s bowling in the powerplay but credited her batters for holding their nerve.
Rwanda’s captain believed 115 was defendable but rued fielding errors.
Player of the Match Nakisuyi said,
“I started slowly, but Rita encouraged me, and I’m happy we finished it.”
With one match to go, Group B remains wide open.
All three teams—Rwanda, Uganda, and table-toppers Tanzania—are still in contention for the semifinals.
A déjà vu win for Tanzania over Rwanda, echoing their Kwibuka Semifinals triumph, would see them top the group.
However, if both Uganda and Rwanda win on the final match day (after tomorrow’s rest day), net run rate will decide the group.
A loss for Rwanda would send Tanzania and Uganda through.
Up next: Uganda face winless Kenya, while Rwanda take on table toppers Tanzania.
