Rwanda Women produced a commanding all-round display to outclass Malawi Women by 66 runs in the 5th Match of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament 2026 in Rwanda, delivering a performance built on strong partnerships, calculated aggression, and disciplined bowling. After being put into bat by Malawi Women, Rwanda steadily constructed their innings through key batting contributions before their bowlers completed the job with an organized and relentless effort.
The innings began positively for Rwanda Women, with openers Fanny Utagushimanimde and Gisele Ishimwe laying the groundwork through an energetic opening partnership. The duo mixed caution with attacking strokeplay, ensuring Rwanda moved steadily in the powerplay while also punishing loose deliveries. Fanny looked particularly fluent, scoring 37 off 29 deliveries, including four boundaries, striking at 127.58. Meanwhile, Gisele anchored the innings with excellent composure and timing, steadily accumulating runs while rotating the strike effectively.
Their opening stand provided Rwanda with valuable momentum before the first setback came at 96/1 in 11 overs, when Fanny was run out after playing a crucial hand that had firmly placed Rwanda in command. While Fanny’s departure halted one end, Gisele Ishimwe continued to dominate proceedings. Her innings became the centrepiece of Rwanda’s batting display as she crafted a superb 54 off 44 balls, laced with seven boundaries, maintaining a strike rate of 122.72.
She found brief support from Clarisse Uwase, who added 4 runs from 6 balls, but Rwanda lost another wicket at 106/2 in 12.2 overs when Clarisse was dismissed by Lidia Dimba. Even though wickets started to fall, Rwanda’s run rate never dropped significantly due to Gisele’s control and ability to keep the scoreboard moving. The innings entered an aggressive phase when Merveille Uwase joined the action and injected fresh momentum into Rwanda’s middle overs. Her unbeaten knock of 39 from just 21 deliveries, including four boundaries and one six, ensured Rwanda accelerated effectively in the death overs.
Alongside Henriette Ishimwe, who contributed a handy 19 off 15 balls, Rwanda stitched together an important middle-order partnership that pushed Malawi’s bowlers under pressure. Henriette’s dismissal at 166/4 in 18.4 overs briefly interrupted Rwanda’s late surge, but not before the pair had significantly strengthened the innings. Rwanda suffered another minor hiccup when Alice Ikuzwe departed for 0 at 166/5 in 18.6 overs, followed by Belise Murekatete, who also fell for a duck at 169/6 in 19.5 overs. However, captain Marie Bimenyimana remained unbeaten on 4 from just one delivery, helping Rwanda finish strongly with a competitive total of 174/6 in 20 overs. Extra also proved valuable, contributing 17 runs, including wides and byes that further frustrated Malawi’s bowlers.
Malawi Women’s bowling attack showed moments of discipline but struggled to consistently contain Rwanda’s aggressive batting approach. Sugeni Kananji emerged as the standout bowler with 1/25 in four overs, maintaining control and regularly challenging the batters. Lidia Dimba (1/22 in 3 overs) and Praise Maziya (1/36 in 4 overs) each picked up wickets, while Lucy Malino bowled economically despite going wicketless with figures of 0/34 in four overs. Bridget Kasinja (0/26 in 3 overs) and Vanessa Phiri (0/27 in 2 overs) also contributed but found it difficult to stop Rwanda’s acceleration during the latter half of the innings.
Chasing a daunting target of 175, Malawi Women needed an ideal start, but Rwanda’s bowlers immediately disrupted their plans. Captain Euless Chiralile attempted to provide intent at the top, striking 17 off 17 balls with four boundaries, though her innings ended unusually after she retired hurt on 0 from 2 balls at 87/4 later in the chase. Malawi lost their first wicket at 47/1 in 9.2 overs, when Angela Lumbe, after a patient but slow 7 off 27 balls, was run out. The slow scoring rate began to hurt Malawi as the required run rate climbed steadily.
The highlight of Malawi’s innings came through an impressive counterattack from Sugeni Kananji, who played a fighting knock of 51 from 41 deliveries, smashing nine boundaries and keeping Malawi’s hopes alive momentarily. Her partnership with the middle order briefly offered resistance, but Rwanda kept striking at critical moments. Sugeni fell at 70/2 in 12.6 overs, dismissed by Merveille Uwase, before Sophina Chinawa (7 off 14) was removed at 81/3 in 15.5 overs by Grace Mugwaneza. Malawi’s chase continued to lose momentum when Praise Maziya scored just 3 runs before departing at 87/4 in 17.4 overs, followed by the retirement of Euless Chiralile at 108/5 in 19.6 overs, ending Malawi’s innings at 108/5 in 20 overs.
Rwanda Women’s bowling attack complemented their batting heroics with a disciplined performance. Rosine Irera was exceptional, claiming 1/12 in three overs while maintaining tight control, while Grace Mugwaneza struck with 1/17 in two overs to break Malawi’s resistance. Belise Murekatete (0/22 in 4 overs) bowled economically at crucial stages, while captain Marie Bimenyimana contributed with 1/27 in four overs. Henriette Ishimwe (0/18 in 3 overs) and Ruth Uwimana (0/11 in 4 overs) kept things tight, ensuring Malawi never built enough momentum to threaten the chase.
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