FAVOURITES NAMIBIA, KENYA OVERWHELM NIGERIA AND RWANDA RESPECTIVELY TO REACH FINAL OF KWIBUKA WOMEN’S TWENTY20
Yasmeen Khan inspires Namibia to highest score of the tourney – 156 for 2
Sarah Bhakita Wetoto wins second Match Award with 20 runs & 2 wickets.
Namibia and Kenya to face off for honours in seventh edition final tomorrow.
Namibia and Kenya, the top two ranked teams at the seventh edition of the Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 International Tournament lived up to the billing with routine semifinal wins enroute to progressing to tomorrow afternoon’s final at Gahanga Stadium.
The business end of the tournament found both teams in good nick and they duly engaged ruthless mode on their way to clinching clinical victories against their semifinal rivals.
Namibia overpowered Nigeria by 91 runs in the first semifinal whereas Kenya defeated Rwanda by 52 runs in the East African Derby that attracted a good vociferous crowd.
Namibia punish Nigeria
Nigeria captain Samantha Agazuma was looking to restrict the Capricorn Eagles to 100 runs after losing the toss but despite picking the prize wicket of the dangerous Sune Wittmann for 6 runs, they didn’t capitalize.
Poor commitment in the field, butter fingers and 15 runs in extras cost Nigeria any little chance – if there was any – that they had to pull off a stunning win against the polished southern Africans.
There were countless misfields and six dropped catches. Four of those dropped catches were reprieves to Player of the Match Yasmeen Khan – the vice-captain and wicketkeeper batsman of Namibia.
She was first dropped on 22 runs, then on 39, 66 and on 70 as she sprayed balls to all parts of the ground – the mid-wicket region being her favourite spot – enroute her unbeaten half century of 78 runs off 53 balls.
Every time she was dropped, she accelerated further as justified by her two monstrous hits out of the scenic stadium as well as the six boundaries. Her big hits accounted for the fifth and sixth sixes of the annual meet played in honour of the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
All-rounder Kayleen-Ann Green constructed an unbeaten 29-ball 25 runs as Namibia set a mammoth 156 runs for 2 wickets in the 20 overs – the tournament’s highest score with only Nigeria’s bowler Mary Desmond (1 wicket for 20 runs in 4 overs) managing to return respectable figures.
Nigeria’s chase lost sting and purpose right from the onset when it was announced that inspirational captain Samantha Agazuma was injured and would not come out to bat. From then, the Green and Yellow Girls built a wall of attrition; giving away nothing and scoring nothing as they had 14 runs in 6.5 overs. When the wickets started tumbling, they did so in a flurry and Nigeria ended up on 65 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Joy Efosa (13 runs off 22 balls) and Esther Sandy (13 runs off 17 balls) top scored in the losing cause that saw Namibian pacer Sylvia Shihepo (2 wickets for 12 runs) and spinner Victoria Hamunyela (2 wickets for 16 runs) continue to shine with the ball.
Kenya show pedigree
The second semifinal was an entertaining affair with Rwanda, despite losing the toss, showing how far they have come as an Associate cricket nation when they squared off against record winners Kenya.
The three-time champions of the Kwibuka tourney elected to bat first after winning the toss and proceeded to put on a show of their limitless batting firepower.
Queentor Abel (14 runs off 13 balls), captain Margaret Banja Ngoche (38 runs off 48 balls), Sharon Juma (11 runs off 15 balls) and Player of the Match Sarah Bhakita Wetoto (20 runs off 15 balls) chanced their arms at everything within their zones and never shied away from attacking right from the onset of their innings.
Their resolve laid a foundation of their score of 117 runs and despite losing six wickets with Margueritte Vumiliya (2 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs) starring, they were confident they had set enough for their bowlers to work with.
Rwanda having scored 104 runs in the semifinal dress rehearsal against the Kenya on Thursday, were confident of springing a surprise. But they got a taste of their own medicine when Kenya summoned all its experience and exposure garnered over years to stifle their run chase.
Kenya used only one pace bowler Lavendah Alivista Idambo (1 wicket for 14 runs in 2 overs). And with Rwanda’s openers Delphine Mukarurangwa (16 runs off 30 balls) and Gisele Ishimwe (6 runs off 10 balls) using her pace to freely score, Banja turned to the slow bowlers – four in total.
Melvin Khagoiza Idambo (1 wicket for 12 runs), Queentor Abel (1 wicket for 11 runs) and Esther Wangari Wachira (1 wicket for 23 runs) bowled economical four-over spells. But it was Wetoto, who picked up the Player of the Match Award, with a parsimonious spell of 2 wickets for 5 runs in 2.5 overs. Her three overs also accounted for three run outs and she also had a fielding dismissal to her credit.
Rwanda’s deficiencies with the bat had been exposed. But there was no shame in the manner during which they lost. Legendary Cathia Uwamahoro tried to save face for the hosts with two firmly struck boundaries in her brief but entertaining knock of 14 runs off 15 balls in what was the last kick of a dying horse.
Like Nigeria, the home team was left stranded on 65 runs all out in 16.5 overs and will need to make amends and give it one final effort in tomorrow’s third-place playoff final that has bronze medals at stake.
Watch A Recap Of Namibia vs. Nigeria Semifinal Match;
Watch A Recap Of Kenya vs. Rwanda Semifinal Match;
The Match Scorecard – Namibia vs. Nigeria Semifinal 1;
The Match Scorecard – Kenya vs. Rwanda Semifinal 2;
SCORES IN BRIEF
Semifinal 1 – Namibia vs. Nigeria
Namibia 156 runs for 2 wickets (Y. Khan 78*, K. Green 29*; M. Desmond 1 for 20)
Nigeria 65 runs for 8 wickets (E. Sandy 13, J. Efosa 13; S. Shihepo 2 for 12 in 4)
(Namibia won by 91 runs)
Semifinal 2 – Kenya vs. Rwanda
Kenya 117 runs for 6 wickets (M.B. Ngoche 38, S.B. Wetoto 20; M. Vumiliya 2/14)
Rwanda 65 runs all out in 16.5 overs (D. Mukarurangwa 16, S.B. Wetoto 2 for 5)
(Kenya won by 52 runs)
FIXTURES – Saturday, June 12
Gahanga Stadium
Third Place Playoff Final (Bronze Match)
9:30am: Namibia vs. Rwanda
Final (Gold Match)
1:50pm: Namibia vs. Kenya
FOR MORE DETAILS CONTACT
Julius Mbaraga
Secretary General,
Rwanda Cricket Association
Email: rwandacricket@yahoo.fr
Mobile/Whatsapp: +250 788 483 485
