An exciting international battle is locked in for the opening afternoon of the 2026 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament as Brazil Women prepare to face the Zimbabwe High Performance Centre (HPC) XI. The match will take place on June 10 at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda. Brazil, known for their unique flair and athletic fielding style, have traveled all the way from South America to test themselves against top African teams. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe HPC squad enters the match with supreme confidence, looking to go one step further after finishing as the tournament runners-up last year.
Squads:
Brazil Women’s Cricket Team
Carolina Nascimento (C), Laura Cardoso, Monnike Rufino, Roberta Moretti, Laura Agatha, Lindsay Vilas Boas, Maria Luiza Garcia, Evelyn Müller, Marianne Artur, Ana Clara Sabino, Giulia Ribeiro, Nicole Monteiro, Maria Eduarda Mc G. Ribeiro, Lara Bittencourt
Zimbabwe High-Performance XI Women’s Cricket Team
Adel Zimunu, Vimbai Mutungwindu, Passionate Munorwei, Runyararo Pasipanodya, Kelly Ndiraya, Betty Mangachena, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Olinder Chare, Michelle Mavunga, Kudzai Chigora, Salem Museka, Nyasha Gwanzura, Lindrose Masina
Players to watch out:
Carolina Nascimento
As the captain of the Brazilian team, she is the strategic anchor of the squad. At just 22 years old, she has developed into a top-class right-arm medium bowler who sets the tone for Brazil’s defense. Nascimento is highly disciplined, with 38 T20I wickets to her name and an incredible career economy rate of under 5 runs per over. She knows how to mix her pace and build scoreboard pressure. With a career-best of 5 wickets for just 12 runs, she is fully capable of destroying an opponent’s middle order if they try to score too fast against her.
Laura Cardoso
Cardoso is easily the most explosive and dangerous player in the Brazilian lineup. She is a phenomenal bowling all-rounder who regularly bats in the top order and spearheads the fast-bowling attack. Earlier this year in April, she shocked the world by setting the all-time world record for the best bowling figures in T20 international history, taking an unbelievable 9 wickets for just 4 runs. She has scored 696 runs in 44 batting outings and recorded the highest of 71*.
Pitch:
The pitch at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium is expected to offer plenty of assistance to the bowlers. With pacers traditionally dominating on this surface, the toss will be crucial, as teams batting first generally hold the upper hand under these conditions.
Weather:
There will be light rain during the day, and it will be partly cloudy at night, with a high temperature of 27°C and a low of 17°C.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Laura Cardoso, Roberta Moretti, Carolina Nascimento, Kelly Ndiraya, Lindsay Vilas Boas, Maria Luiza Garcia, Laura Agatha, Lorraine Pemhiwa, Adel Zimunu, Passionate Munorwei, Nyasha Gwanzura
Match Details:
Date – June 10, 2026
Time – 1:30PM IST
Venue – Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda
Broadcast – FanCode app and website
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