Rwanda U19 Women’s team beat Tanzania U19 to seal a spot in World Cup 2023

The first-ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place early next year in South Africa. The tournament now after having completed its last (Africa) qualification leg sees 12+4 nations book their berth for the mega ICC event. Of the 16 qualified nations, 12 gained direct qualifications and the other 4 have come through a qualification process.

The 12 nations who’ve gained direct qualification are Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa (hosts), Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the United States. The 4 nations who’ve joined the 12 are United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the 6-team Asia qualifier, Indonesia from the 2-team East Asia Pacific (EAP) qualifier, Scotland from the 2-team Europe qualifier and Rwanda from the Africa qualifier which had 9 teams contest. To know a brief on the Africa qualifier, continue reading.

Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda were the final 4 nations who made it to the knockout leaving behind Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Botswana. The semi-final played between Tanzania and Namibia saw the latter post 107/8 in 20 overs that Tanzania then comfortably chased down in 18.5 overs of play with 6 wickets in hand. The other semi-final played between Rwanda and Uganda saw the former post 97 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs that they then went to defend emphatically by bowling Uganda out for 41 runs in 14.4 overs to win the contest by 56 runs.

Having lost respective semi-finals, Namibia and Uganda contested in the 3rd place playoff which had the latter post 110/4 on the board in 20 overs that Namibia then went on to comfortably chase it down in 17.1 overs and registered a 4-wicket win. The final show between Tanzania and Rwanda had the latter bowl Tanzania out for 84 runs in 18 overs that they then comfortably chased down in 15.4 overs of play and with 6 wickets in hand.

16 Teams are now confirmed for the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup

🇿🇦South Africa (hosts)
🇦🇺Australia
🇧🇩Bangladesh
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿England
🇮🇳India
☘️Ireland
🇳🇿New Zealand
🇵🇰Pakistan
🇱🇰Sri Lanka
🇺🇸USA
🏝️West Indies
🇿🇼Zimbabwe
🇮🇩Indonesia
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland
🇦🇪UAE
🇷🇼Rwanda#CricketTwitter

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 12, 2022

THE FINAL –

Tanzania : 84/10 (18)
Rwanda : 86/4 (15.4)

Tanzania batting first didn’t have the best of starts as a defensive powerplay bunch of 6 overs saw them score 22 runs for the loss of one wicket that’d come early in the innings of Martha Selasini. Skipper Jenipher Kimaro departed on the first ball after powerplay overs and then Saumu stitched a little partnership alongside Rahima who finished with the most, 33 runs in the innings. All of the following departed for single-digit scores which had Tanzania bowled out for 84 runs.

Rwanda with the ball had Belise Murekatete and Henriette Ishimwe with excellent figures of 3-6-3 and 3-7-2 respectively. Rosine Irera and Geovanis Uwase too had a couple and a wicket each to their name. Gisele Ishimwe had a wicketless outing but enjoyed an economical outing.

With the bat in reply, Rwanda were off to a brilliant start as openers Gisele Ishimwe and Merveille Uwase put on a 47-run opening stand that saw curtains with the wicket of Merveille on 25(30). Uganda struck a couple more in quick succession as skipper Gisele on 19(26) and Belise Murekatete on 2(2) walked back. Henriette Ishimwe and Henriette Isimbi put on a good stand but the pair couldn’t close the game as Isimbi on 13(12) departed. Divine Ishimwe then remained unbeaten on 3(5) alongside Henriette Ishimwe on 17(19) as the two closed the game for Rwanda in 15.4 overs ensuring the side with a 6-wicket win.

JUST IN:

Rwanda beats Tanzania to qualify for the maiden U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Congratulations @RwandaCricket 👏👏#CricketTwitter #U19WC pic.twitter.com/wz97FdvAIr

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 12, 2022

RESULTS – ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2022