Hosts and defending champions Rwanda will be joined by seven other countries for the 2024 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Cricket tournament.
The 10th edition of the annual competition is scheduled for May 27 and will run through June 8 at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.
Other teams confirmed for the competition include Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi and Cameroon.
According to the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) general manager, Emmanuel Byiringiro, Tanzania, Namibia, USA and Japan were also invited to take part in the tournament but they have not confirmed their participation yet.
In 2023, Rwanda claimed a surprise 6-wicket victory over Uganda in the final to claim their first title in nine years. Kenya popped Nigeria to third place.
Rwanda restricted Uganda to just 65 runs all out in 20 overs, and in reply, the hosts reached the lowly target in 16.1 overs.
It was Rwanda’s first win against Uganda and the first time that they had won the Kwibuka tournament, which is organized annually to commemorate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Bowler Henrietta Ishimwe led Rwanda’s run to their first title in nine attempts after she claimed a tournament-high 16 wickets, while Kenya’s Queentor Abel scored the highest runs (206).
Meanwhile, IPRC TSS (boys) and Groupe Scolaire Kinihira (girls) dominated the just-concluded inter-schools cricket tournaments which run in Kigali from April 4-6.
Both schools finished with 10 points each after winning all their five matches.
Regina Pacis Tumba finish 2nd in the boys’ tournament with 7 points followed by GS Mwulire (5pts), GS Kinihira (5pts), GS Munyinya (3pts), while GS Ndera finished at the bottom without a point.
In the girls’ category, GS Cyimbazi took second place with 8 points after four wins and one defeat. GS Ndera finished third (4pts), Regina Pacis Tumba (4pts), IPRC TSS and St. Etienne were fifth and sixth respectively with two points apiece. – The New Times
