Match 18 of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament brings together Sierra Leone and Malawi in what promises to be a closely contested encounter at Gahanga Cricket Stadium 2 in Kigali.
Sierra Leone come into this match looking to bounce back from recent setbacks, including defeats to Rwanda and Cameroon. Despite these challenges, they have shown flashes of brilliance in the tournament and will be banking on experienced players such as Ann Marie Kamara, Linda Bull, and Celina Bull to deliver with both bat and ball.
Malawi, on the other hand, have steadily improved throughout the tournament, with young talents like Sugeni Kananji and Eva Kabwere making significant contributions. Kananji, in particular, has impressed with her all-round skills, providing stability in the middle order and crucial breakthroughs with the ball.
Squads:
Sierra Leone Women’s Cricket Team
Fatmata Parkinson, Hussainatu Sawanneh, Jane Newland, Marie Turay, Aminata Kamara, Ann Kamara, Celina Bull, Emma Kamara, Isha Bangura, Fatu Conteh, Zainab Kamara, Alice Fillie, Linda Bull, Patrica Pratt
Malawi Women’s Cricket Team
Alinafe Alfonso, Euless Chilarile, Febbe Malefula, Sophina Chinawa, Triphonia Luka, Esther Richard, Lidia Dimba, Sugeni Kananji, Tadala Mpandakwaya, Praise Maziya, Christina Bwanali, Eva Kabwere, Ketrina Chingaipe, Lucy Malino
Players to watch out:
Linda Bull
Linda Bull is an all-rounder for Sierra Leone and her career highlights include best bowling figures of 3 wickets for 0 runs. In her last outing against Cameroon Women, she picked up 3 wickets in her 4 overs spell. Bull’s consistent all-round efforts make her a vital player for Sierra Leone going into the tournament. She has scored 179 runs from 24 T20I outings and picked up 16 wickets from as many bowling innings.
Aisha Bangura
Aisha is a young bowler for Sierra Leone and making her mark in the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, in a recent match against Cameroon, she took 2 wickets for 16 runs in 3 overs, showing her effectiveness with the ball. Bangura’s opportunities with the bat have been limited, but her recent bowling performance highlights her promise as a key bowler for Sierra Leone in T20Is.
Praise Maziya
Praise Maziya is a promising bowler for Malawi and featuring in the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, in her first three matches, she has taken 4 wickets from 11 overs at an average of 15.25 and an economy rate of 5.54, with best figures of 2 for 16. Maziya’s recent performances highlight her as a key bowler for Malawi, regularly contributing breakthroughs and maintaining control with the ball.
Lidia Dimba
Lidia Dimba has played 12 T20Is, scoring 171 runs at an average of 19, with the highest score of 74* and a strike rate of 78.80. With the ball, she has taken 7 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 23.71 and an economy rate of 5.21, with best figures of 3/17. In her recent matches during the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, she has registered scores of 27 and 25 and picked up three wickets from in as many outings.
Pitch:
The pitch at Gahanga Cricket Stadium 2 in Kigali is balanced, offering good bounce for batters and assistance for pace bowlers. Spin can come into play later in the match. The outfield is fast, and teams chasing totals have a slight advantage.
Weather:
With scattered thunderstorms on the radar, rain interruptions are likely throughout the day. The conditions may be damp and humid, with cloud cover, occasional gusts of wind and the humidity will be moderate to high.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Aminata Kamara, Ann Kamara, Celina Bull, Emma Kamara, Zainab Kamara, Linda Bull, Sophina Chinawa, Lidia Dimba, Sugeni Kananji, Praise Maziyai, Eva Kabwere
Match details:
Date – June 7, 2025
Time – 1:15 PM IST
Venue – Gahanga Cricket Stadium 2, Kigali
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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