New Zealand registers a crucial win in an easy fashion chasing 97 versus Rwanda in the Group 2 Super Six match of the ICC U19 Women’s World Cup at North-West University No. 1 Ground in Potchefstroom. Rwanda won the toss and elected to bat first.
Rwanda was off to a tough start losing Merveille Uwase for a four-ball duck as Olivia Anderson struck the first blow. With Cynthia Tuyizere getting dismissed for 3, Gisele Ishimwe, the skipper and Henriette Ishimwe began building on a partnership and did the bulk of the scoring runs. G Isimbe was dismissed for 27 and joining H Ishimwe was Belise Murekatete. After Murekatete’s dismissal for 14, Henriette Isimbi was also out for 5. Henriette Ishimwe’s dismissal for 30 off 46 signaled the death knell for Rwanda as the lower middle order and the tailenders chipped in with single-digit figures driving the score to 96/7. Anderson and Chandler’s two-wicket hauls respectively helped restrict the Rwanda batters.
🚨FIFTY🚨
Emma McLeod scores her first half century from 33 balls 🥳
🇳🇿 New Zealand: 80-4 (12.5)#CricketTwitter #U19T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/TvS9EeO06d
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 21, 2023
New Zealand lost Georgia Plimmer early on for 9 and in the same over, Rosine Irera got rid of Izzy Gaze for 1 which was a massive setback. Enna McLoed however was going strong and was joined by skipper Izzy Sharp who was building on a partnership. But her dismissal by Zurufat Ishimwe and Kate Irwin’s run out beside Paige Loggenberg’s dismissal meant New Zealand was 5 down but the target was still well within reach. McLeod was dismissed for a well-made 59 off 39 and adding finishing touches to the victory were Kate Chandler’s 7 as New Zealand pulled off this win in the 16th over. Rosine Irera was the pick of the bowlers scalping three wickets for Rwanda.
Brief Scores: RWA- 96/7 in 20 overs (H Ishimwe 30, G Ishimwe 14; O Anderson 2/21, K Chandler 2/21) lost to NZ 99/6 in 16.1 overs (E McLeod 59; R Irera 3/21) by 4 wickets and 23 balls remaining
🇳🇿 New Zealand U19 won by 4 wickets
🇷🇼 Rwanda U19: 95-7 (20)
Henriette Ishimwe: 30 (47)
Gisele Ishimwe: 27 (28)
Kate Chandler 2- 20🇳🇿 New Zealand U19: 99-6 (16.1)
Emma Mcleod: 59 (39)
Izzy Sharp: 11 (24)
Rosine Uwera 3-17#CricketTwitter #U19T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/c5uJR7GOqs— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 21, 2023
I am a first year postgraduate student pursuing a MA in Media and Communication Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. I am a podcaster, blogger and an avid cricket fan. When not glued to cricket matches, you can find me submerged in books and thinking about cricket all the time.