Rwanda Women and Malawi Women will meet in an important Group stage match of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament 2026 in Kigali. Rwanda are in better form and have already won two matches in the tournament, while Malawi are still looking for their first win. This makes the match very important for both sides, but especially for Malawi, who need a strong performance to stay in the competition.
Rwanda Women have been more stable in their performances so far. Their batting unit has shown better control, with players spending more time at the crease and building partnerships. Their bowlers have also done well by keeping runs under control and taking wickets at key moments. Malawi Women, on the other hand, have struggled mainly with their batting. They have not been able to build long innings and often lose wickets in quick bursts. Their bowling has shown some fight, but they have not been able to defend low totals.
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
Malawi Women’s Cricket Team
Euless Chiralile (C), Christina Bwanali, Princess Chidatha, Sophina Chinawa, Sphiwe Frank, Sungeni Kananji, Bridget Kasinja, Alinafe Kawirawira, Angela Lumbe, Lucy Malino, Praise Maziya, Lidia Dimba, Vanessa Phiri, Lucy Wesley
Players to watch out:
Gisele Ishimwe
Ishimwe is one of Rwanda’s most reliable batters. In her T20I career, she has scored over 1,800 runs with an average close to 19 and a strike rate around 85. She is known for playing calm and steady innings and helping her team recover from early wickets. In this tournament, she has scored 90 runs in 3 matches with a best of 54. She has also taken 17 T20I wickets, making her a strong all-round option.
Marie Bimenyimana
Bimenyimana is one of the most experienced players in the Rwanda side. In T20Is, she has scored more than 1,500 runs and taken nearly 100 wickets, showing her value as a top all-rounder. She bowls with very good control and keeps runs tight in the middle overs. In this tournament, she has already taken 5 wickets and continues to play a key role for her team.
Sungeni Kananji
Kananji has been Malawi’s most consistent batter in this tournament. In T20Is, she has scored over 430 runs in 30+ matches with an average around 17 and a strike rate close to 96. She also contributes with the ball, adding useful balance to the team. In this tournament, she has scored 67 runs in 3 matches, with a best of 51, showing that she can hold the innings under pressure and build partnerships.
Lucy Malino
Malino has been Malawi’s main bowling threat. In her T20I career, she has taken around 40 wickets in 30 matches with a strong average close to 13 and a good economy rate under 5. She is known for breaking partnerships and bowling well in pressure moments. In this tournament, she has taken 7 wickets in 3 matches, with best figures of 4/15, making her the leading wicket-taker for her team.
Pitch:
The pitch at Gahanga is slow and helps bowlers more than batters. Spinners get more help as the match goes on, while batters need time to settle before playing big shots. A score around 110–130 can be competitive here.
Weather:
The weather in Kigali is expected to stay calm and partly cloudy. Temperature will be around 22°C during the day and 13°C at night, with light winds and a small chance of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Diane Bimenyimana, Gisele Ishimwe, Marie Bimenyimana, Fanny Utagushimaninde, Merveille Uwase, Sungeni Kananji, Lucy Malino, Christina Bwanali, Ruth Uwimana, Angela Lumbe, Lidia Dimba
Match Details:
Date – June 15, 2026
Time – 5:00 PM IST
Venue – Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali City
Broadcast – Live streaming on FanCode app and website
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