The host nation Rwanda and a formidable Nigerian side walk into Match 7 of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament 2026 with very different early campaigns behind them. Nigeria kicked off their tournament on a high note, locking in a crucial 2-point win from their sole outing to sit comfortably behind the table leaders. Rwanda, on the other hand, stumbled in their opening fixture and are looking for an immediate bounce-back. With zero points on the board, the tournament hosts know they cannot afford to let the gap widen further, making this a classic high-stakes rivalry where early momentum is on the line.
Squads:
Rwanda Women’s Cricket Team
Diane Bimenyimana (C), Fanny Utagushimaninde, Gisele Ishimwe, Henriette Ishimwe, Clarisse Umutoniwase, Merveille Uwase, Belyse Murekatete, Rosine Irera, Ruth Uwimana, Alice Ikuzwe, Geovanis Uwase, Georgette, Ingabire, Flora Irakoze, Grace Umugwaneza
Nigeria Women’s Cricket Team
Christabel Chukwuonye, Deborah Bassey, Esther Sandy, Favour Effiong, Favour Eseigbe (C), Henrietta Mbam, Jessica Bieni, Lilian Ude, Omosigho Eguakun, Oseyende Omonkhobhia, Rachael Samson, Salome Sunday, Sarah Etim, Shola Adenkunle
Players to watch out:
Belise Murekatete
Belise Murekatete made an absolute splash in her appearance for Rwanda Women, showcasing some incredibly explosive hitting low down the order. Walking out with intent, she smashed an unbeaten 54 runs off just 23 deliveries, finishing with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 234.78. Her quick-fire cameo was powered by 3 boundaries and 5 massive sixes, proving her capability to completely shift the momentum of an innings in a matter of a few overs.
Jessica Bieni
Jessica Bieni provided a solid, stabilizing presence lower down the order for Nigeria Women during her outing. She remained unbeaten on 25 runs, guiding her side through a patient 35-ball stay at the crease. While she focused heavily on rotating the strike and absorbing pressure, she hit a single boundary to finish the innings with a steady strike rate of 71.42.
Henriette Ishimwe
Henriette Ishimwe proved to be quite an effective option for Rwanda Women by making a strong impact with the ball. She bowled a very tidy spell of 3 overs, delivering 2 maiden overs and conceding a mere 8 runs. Her discipline paid off with 2 crucial wickets, leaving her with an outstanding economy rate of 2.66 and a sharp bowling strike rate of 9.00.
Favour Eseigbe
Favour Eseigbe pulled off an incredibly rare and efficient bowling performance for Nigeria Women. Brought on for just a brief three-ball cameo, she didn’t allow a single run to be scored off her bowling. Instead, she completely dismantled the opposition’s lower order by picking up 2 wickets in those 3 deliveries, walking away with an unbelievable economy rate of 0.00 and a best bowling figure of 2/0.
Pitch:
The pitch here is famously balanced but generally heavily favors the bowlers, often resulting in lower-scoring encounters. Fast bowlers extract considerable movement early on, accounting for over 55% of the total wickets taken, though spinners become highly effective as the match progresses and the surface slows down.
Weather:
The conditions will be mostly cloudy during the day and partly cloudy at night, with a high temperature of 27°C, a low of 17°C, and a 20% chance of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Christabel Chukwuonye, Esther Sandy, Favour Effiong, Favour Eseigbe, Salome Sunday, Diane Bimenyimana, Fanny Utagushimaninde, Gisele Ishimwe, Henriette Ishimwe, Clarisse Umutoniwase, Merveille Uwase
Match Details:
Date – June 12, 2026
Time – 1:00 PM IST
Venue – Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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