By Innocent Ndawula

Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament

Friday Results At Gahanga Stadium

Game 7

Rwanda 246/7 Mali 30/9

Rwanda won by 216 runs

Game 8

Uganda 109/4 Tanzania 113/4

Tanzania won by 6 wickets

Saturday Results At Gahanga Stadium

Game 9

Tanzania 285/1 Mali 17/10

Tanzania won by 268 runs

Game 10

Rwanda 80/6 Uganda 81/2

Uganda won by 8 wickets

Day 6 - Sunday, June 23 Fixtures

10.30am: Uganda vs. Mali

2.50pm: Rwanda vs. Tanzania

Table Standings - Kwibuka Women's T20

TEAM

M

W

L

T

Pts

NRR

Tanzania

5

5

0

0

10

4.531

Uganda

5

3

2

0

6

3.598

Rwanda

5

2

3

0

4

2.73

Mali

5

0

5

0

0

-13.396
Uganda's Gloria Obukor receives the Match Award from Uganda Deputy High Commissioner to Rwanda H.E Anne Katusiime for her steady innings against Rwanda on Day Five.

Tanzania remained untouchable and nothing will stop them from winning their first Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 title Tournament on their debut on Sunday, June 23. They stayed at cloud nine with a six-wicket and 268-run win over Uganda (Friday) and Tanzania (Saturday) respectively at Gahanga International Stadium to reach an assailable 10 points.

Their commanding victory over Mali means that even if Rwanda defeat them on the final day - what will be shock result if it happens - they will still be crowned 2019 champions. Uganda have six points, Rwanda four and Mali are yet to pick up any.

Fourth centurion

Fatuma Omary Kibasu became the fourth centurion of the tournament with a 71-ball 106 knock that helped Tanzania set 268 for the loss of 1 wicket. The third ton was notched by Rwanda’s Diane Mary Bimenyimana on Friday whereas the other two belong to Uganda’s Proscovia Alako and captain Rita Musamali. Playing in an opener’s role for the first time in a while, Bimenyimana hit 13 boundaries in her 81-ball knock as she carried her bat for 114 runs.

Rwanda have come of age and despite going down to Uganda twice, they do have some classy players like Diane Bimenyimana.

In their reply, Mali could only manage 17 runs in 12.5 overs thanks to Nasra Nassoro Saidi, who claimed historic figures of five scalps at no run in 2.5 overs and Tabu Saidi Omary, who snared 4 wickets for 9 runs in 4 overs.

Record-hungry Uganda

Mali, will now run into a record-hungry Ugandan side in their last match, that will be itching to end on a high after completing their double against Rwanda in a well-watched derby at Gahanga on Match Day Five.

Rwanda captain Sarah Uwera won the toss and played into Uganda’s hands by electing to bat. Uganda’s bowlers stifled Rwanda’s batting line-up in an improved display of line and length that was backed up by better ground fielding - something that has been a mystical myth from the new-look Lady Cricket Cranes side since Day One.

Captain Rita Musamali showed the immense talent in her side by expertly shuffling around eight bowlers led by returning Evelyne Anyipo (2/7 in 2 overs) to restrict Rwanda to 80 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs.

Bimenyimana stood out with the bat for Rwanda with a 50-ball 36 and young Gisele Ishimwe scored 23 off 44 balls in an industrious 51-run partnership for the fifth stand that helped the hosts recover from 28 for 4 in 7.2 overs.

Tanzania have remained untouchable throughout the tournament and will look to end with a 100 per cent record. Their bowling tactics have been pinpoint accurate and their batting has been solid.

But Uganda’s opening batters; Player of the Match Gloria Obukor (33 off 42) and Proscovia Alako (18 off 31) silenced the growing crowd at the beautiful Gahanga with controlled innings as Uganda cruised home at 81 for 2 in 15 overs.

Captain Musamali (17* off 16) and her sibling Susan Kakai (1* off 1) wrapped up the convincing win to put smiles on the face of Uganda’s Deputy High Commissioner to Rwanda H.E Anne Katusiime, who sat next to former Rwanda Cricket Association president Charles Haba.

Elated Obukor

H.E Katusiime also presented the match award to an elated Obukor who promised not to rest on her laurels.

“I was confident when playing today,” said the 19-year-old who is also a product of Soroti Cricket Academy.

“I played very straight early on, blocked the good balls and managed to punish the bad balls. If I get a chance to play in our last game against Mali, I would love to end the tournament with a century.”

For Rwanda Assistant Coach Byson Kenneth Bugingo, it is all about picking the positives from their loss to the Lady Cricket Cranes and focusing on the last game against Tanzania.

“We picked the right team that should have done a good job and decided as a team to bat first. But we stopped so many balls in our innings and that was our undoing. But congratulations to Uganda, who proved stronger and deservedly won,” admitted Bugingo.

“We must pick the positives and put all our energies in the last game against Tanzania. They are a strong side too but we can beat them. We have to do it for our fans and our country.”

Rwanda Cricket Association CEO Emma Byiringiro (L), former RCA boss Charles Haba and Uganda coach Michael Grace Ndiko welcomed the Deputy High Commissioner of Uganda to Rwanda H.E Anne Katusiime at Gahanga.

The tournament, played on a two-round robin format, has International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 International status and ranking points as well. The final day will surely offer an exciting and fitting climax.