Rwanda produced a disciplined all-round performance to register an 18-run victory over Uganda in the Women’s Victoria T20 Series 2026 contest. After putting together a competitive total of 92/5 in their allotted 18 overs, Rwanda relied on an outstanding bowling performance from Ruth Uwimana, who claimed four wickets for just 10 runs, to restrict Uganda to 74/6. Gisele Ishimwe’s valuable contribution with the bat and a collective bowling effort ensured Rwanda came out on top, while Uwimana was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Rwanda’s innings began with Fanny Utagushimaninde and Gisele Ishimwe opening the batting. The pair provided a steady start, adding 23 runs for the first wicket before Fanny was dismissed for 10 off 15 deliveries. She struggled to find regular boundaries but helped provide an initial platform. Clarisse Uwase then joined Ishimwe, and the two batters built an important 34-run partnership for the second wicket. Ishimwe anchored the innings with a patient 32 off 46 balls, striking one boundary, while Uwase contributed 14 from 21 deliveries, also finding the fence once. Their partnership took Rwanda to 57/2 before Uwase departed, bowled by Malisa Ariokot.
Shakila Niyomuhoza arrived at the crease and added some momentum with an 11-run knock from just seven deliveries, including a boundary. However, her stay ended when she was caught by Esther Iloku off Janet Mbabazi’s bowling, leaving Rwanda at 69/3. Henriette Ishimwe then joined Gisele Ishimwe, and the pair added nine runs before the latter was dismissed for a well-made 32. Janet Mbabazi claimed her second wicket of the innings, reducing Rwanda to 78/4.
Henriette continued to hold the innings together, scoring an unbeaten 16 off 15 balls. Merveille Uwase managed just one run before becoming Janet’s third victim, caught by Sarah Walaza, as Rwanda slipped to 85/5. Belise Murekatete then joined Henriette and contributed an unbeaten two off two deliveries. The pair added seven runs for the sixth-wicket partnership to take Rwanda to 92/5 after 18 overs. Rwanda also collected six extras, including two wides, two byes and two leg-byes.
For Uganda, Janet Mbabazi was the standout bowler, finishing with three wickets for 20 runs in her four overs. Concy Aweko picked up one wicket, conceding 18 runs from four overs, while Malisa Ariokot also claimed a wicket, returning figures of 1/13 in three overs. Sarah Walaza bowled two overs for 12 runs, Immaculate Nakisuyi conceded 12 runs in three overs, and Asumin Akurut gave away 13 runs in two overs without taking a wicket.
Chasing 93 for victory, Uganda needed a strong batting performance but struggled to establish partnerships against Rwanda’s disciplined bowling attack. Stephani Nampiina was the first to depart, scoring two off five balls before being caught by Merveille Uwase off Rosine Irera’s bowling. Janet Mbabazi joined Prosscovia Alako, and the pair attempted to rebuild the innings. However, the partnership ended at 21 when Alako was trapped lbw by Ruth Uwimana for nine off 16 deliveries.
Janet, who scored nine from 25 balls with one boundary, became the third wicket to fall when she was trapped lbw by Henriette Ishimwe, leaving Uganda at 23/3. The situation worsened as Esther Iloku departed for a two-ball duck, caught by Henriette off Uwimana’s bowling, with the scoreboard reading 24/4. Uganda’s top order was unable to build momentum, and Rwanda continued to tighten their grip on the contest.
Immaculate Nakisuyi attempted to stabilise the innings with a quick 10 off 10 deliveries, including one boundary. However, she was caught by Alice Ikuzwe off Uwimana’s bowling, leaving Uganda struggling at 36/5. Rita Musamali followed soon after, scoring five from 12 balls before being trapped lbw by Uwimana. Uganda had slipped to 37/6, with the required target becoming increasingly difficult to achieve.
With six wickets down, Malisa Ariokot and wicketkeeper Kevin Awino provided some resistance. Ariokot played the most significant innings for Uganda, remaining unbeaten on 21 off 19 balls, including two boundaries. Awino supported her with an unbeaten 13 from 19 deliveries as the pair put together an important 37-run seventh-wicket partnership. Despite their efforts, the mounting required run rate proved too difficult to overcome. Uganda eventually finished at 74/6 in 18 overs, falling 18 runs short of the target. The innings also included five wides.
Ruth Uwimana was the clear difference-maker with the ball, delivering an exceptional spell of four overs that yielded four wickets for just 10 runs at an economy rate of 2.50. Rosine Irera supported her well with figures of 1/9 in four overs, while Henriette Ishimwe picked up one wicket, conceding 18 runs in three overs. Belise Murekatete was economical, returning 0/5 in two overs, including a maiden, while captain Marie Bimenyimana conceded 19 runs in two overs. Alice Ikuzwe completed the bowling effort with figures of 0/13 in three overs.
Rwanda’s ability to defend a modest total through disciplined bowling and timely breakthroughs ultimately proved decisive. While Gisele Ishimwe’s 32 provided the foundation with the bat, Uwimana’s match-winning bowling spell ensured Uganda never got close to the target. The 18-run victory highlighted Rwanda’s collective effort and earned Ruth Uwimana the Player of the Match award for her outstanding four-wicket performance.
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