Rwanda produced a disciplined all-round performance to register an 18-run victory over Uganda within the Ladies’s Victoria T20 Series 2026 contest. After putting collectively a aggressive whole of 92/5 in their allotted 18 overs, Rwanda relied on an impressive bowling performance from Ruth Uwimana, who claimed 4 wickets for simply 10 runs, to limit Uganda to 74/6. Gisele Ishimwe’s beneficial contribution with the bat and a collective bowling effort ensured Rwanda came out on top, whereas Uwimana was deservedly named Participant of the Match.
Rwanda’s innings started with Fanny Utagushimaninde and Gisele Ishimwe opening the batting. The pair supplied a gradual begin, adding 23 runs for the first wicket before Fanny was dismissed for 10 off 15 deliveries. She struggled to find regular boundaries but helped present an initial platform. Clarisse Uwase then joined Ishimwe, and the 2 batters constructed an essential 34-run partnership for the second wicket. Ishimwe anchored the innings with a affected person 32 off 46 balls, placing one boundary, whereas Uwase contributed 14 from 21 deliveries, also discovering the fence as soon as. Their partnership took Rwanda to 57/2 before Uwase departed, bowled by Malisa Ariokot.
Shakila Niyomuhoza arrived on the crease and added some momentum with an 11-run knock from simply seven deliveries, including a boundary. However, her stay ended when she was caught by Esther Iloku off Janet Mbabazi’s bowling, leaving Rwanda at 69/3. Henriette Ishimwe then joined Gisele Ishimwe, and the pair added 9 runs before the latter was dismissed for a well-made 32. Janet Mbabazi claimed her second wicket of the innings, decreasing Rwanda to 78/4.
Henriette continued to carry the innings collectively, scoring an unbeaten 16 off 15 balls. Merveille Uwase managed only one run before becoming Janet’s third victim, caught by Sarah Walaza, as Rwanda slipped to 85/5. Belise Murekatete then joined Henriette and contributed an unbeaten two off two deliveries. The pair added seven runs for the sixth-wicket partnership to take Rwanda to 92/5 after 18 overs. Rwanda also collected six extras, including two wides, two byes and two leg-byes.
For Uganda, Janet Mbabazi was the standout bowler, finishing with three wickets for 20 runs in her 4 overs. Concy Aweko picked up one wicket, conceding 18 runs from 4 overs, whereas Malisa Ariokot also claimed a wicket, returning figures of 1/13 in three overs. Sarah Walaza bowled two overs for 12 runs, Immaculate Nakisuyi conceded 12 runs in three overs, and Asumin Akurut gave away 13 runs in two overs with out taking a wicket.
Chasing 93 for victory, Uganda wanted a strong batting performance but struggled to ascertain partnerships against Rwanda’s disciplined bowling attack. Stephani Nampiina was the first to depart, scoring two off five balls before being caught by Merveille Uwase off Rosine Irera’s bowling. Janet Mbabazi joined Prosscor, the partnership ended at 21 when Alako was trapped lbw by Ruth Uwimana for 9 off 16 deliveries
Janet, who scored 9 from 25 balls with one boundary, turned the third wicket to fall when she was trapped lbw by Henriette Ishimwe, leaving Uganda at 23/3. The situation worsened as Esther Iloku departed for a two-ball duck, caught by Henriette off Uwimana’s bowling, with the scoreboard reading 24/4. Uganda’s top order was unable to construct momentum, and Rwanda continued to tighten their grip on the competition.
Immaculate Nakisuyi attempted to stabilise the innings with a quick 10 off 10 deliveries, including one boundary. However, she was caught by Alice Ikuzwe off Uwimana’s bowling, leaving Uganda struggling at 36/5. Rita Musamali adopted soon after, scoring five from 12 balls before being trapped lbw by Uwimana. Uganda had slipped to 37/6, with the required target becoming more and more tough to realize.
With six wickets down, Malisa Ariokot and wicketkeeper Kevin Awino supplied some resistance. Ariokot played probably the most important innings for Uganda, remaining unbeaten on 21 off 19 balls, including two boundaries. Awino supported her with an unbeaten 13 from 19 deliveries as the pair put collectively an essential 37-run seventh-wicket partnership. Despite their efforts, the mounting required run price proved too tough to overcome. Uganda eventually finished at 74/6 in 18 overs, falling 18 runs wanting the target. The innings also included five wides.
Ruth Uwimana was the clear difference-maker with the ball, delivering an exceptional spell of 4 overs that yielded 4 wickets for simply 10 runs at an economy price of two.50. Rosine Irera supported her effectively with figures of 1/9 in 4 overs, whereas Henriette Ishimwe picked up one wicket, conceding 18 runs in three overs. Belise Murekatete was economical, returning 0/5 in two overs, including a maiden, whereas captain Marie Bimenyimana conceded 19 runs in two overs. Alice Ikuzwe accomplished the bowling effort with figures of 0/13 in three overs.
Rwanda’s ability to defend a modest whole by way of disciplined bowling and well timed breakthroughs in the end proved decisive. Whereas Gisele Ishimwe’s 32 supplied the muse with the bat, Uwimana’s match-winning bowling spell ensured Uganda never acquired close to the target. The 18-run victory highlighted Rwanda’s collective effort and earned Ruth Uwimana the Participant of the Match award for her excellent four-wicket performance.
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Source: femalecricket.com
