The Victoria Pearls’ wait for a first Kwibuka trophy since 2016 was prolonged following their 6 wicket defeat to Rwanda in the Kwibuka Women’s T20 final on Saturday at the Gahanga Cricket Ground.
Victoria Pearls went into this competition as a team on form and favourites to lift the trophy after their triumphs in Namibia and Uganda where there won the Quadrangular Series and the Victoria Series respectively.
They indeed lived up to the tag, convincingly beating up on everyone in the group stages except Nigeria who they lost to by 7 wickets in their last group game. Lawrence Sematimba’s girls nonetheless entered the final as the favourites, but things did not go as planned for the Ugandan women.
Having won the toss, Rwanda sent Uganda in to bat first, and boy did they make good use of the ball! The Victoria Pearls were bowled out with the very last ball that Evelyn Anyipo faced.
It was Proscovia Alako’s wicket that fell first- in the third Over- and the hosts kept their momentum going. Janet Mbabazi (13) and Stephanie Nampiina (19) had tried to build their innings, but when their wickets fell in the 12th and 16th Over respectively, it was easy pickings for the Rwandan bowlers.
After the duo being sent to the dugout, only Immaculate Nakisuyi faced more than ten balls (16). Rwanda picked two successive wickets in the penultimate Over, and another two in the final Over to wrap up a fantastic innings for them.
Their chase started as they had hoped. Opening batter Gisele Ishimwe was picked in the 6th Over, but she had given her side a perfect start. Her 13 runs included two 6s off the 17 balls she faced.
Gisele combined with her fellow top order batters Uwase Mervielle (17) and Alice Ikuze (12) to win the game as Rwanda lifted their first ever Kwibuka trophy.
Phionah Kulume produced some decent figures, picking two wickets for 11 runs, but the paltry score of 65 was one that always looked hard to defend.
Uganda had won all the previous three tournaments they had taken part in, but that spell comes to an end. It is also the first time Rwanda is beating Uganda in any form of cricket.
