WOMEN’S T20 WC AFRICA QUALIFIER: Tanzania beat Rwanda to lead Group B
WINDHOEK: THE Tanzania Women’s cricket team maintained their perfect record in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Division One Qualifier after defeating Rwanda Women by 18 runs in their final Group B match, held at Windhoek yesterday.
The victory sees Tanzania top their group with 6 points undefeated, underlining their status as one of the tournament’s favourites heading into the knockout stages.
Batting first, Tanzania posted a competitive 123 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs.
The innings was anchored by a composed and unbeaten 54 off 46 balls from Hudaa Omary, whose knock included four boundaries and two sixes, earning her the Player of the Match award.
Tanzania suffered a shaky start, losing openers Saum Mtae (1) and Neema Pius (7) to run-outs within the first three overs.
However, a steady 86-run partnership between captain Fatuma Kibasu (44 off 58) and Omary steadied the innings before Kibasu was also run out in the 17th over.
Despite four run-outs in the innings, Tanzania managed to cross the 120-mark, aided by 13 extras from the Rwandan bowlers.
In reply, Rwanda Women struggled early, losing three wickets within the first three overs, including Marie Bimenyimana (3), Clarisse Uwase (0) and Gisele Ishimwe (1), leaving them reeling at 3 for 3.
Middle-order resistance from Shakila Niyomuhoza (31 off 26) and Alice Ikuzwe (21 off 30) offered brief hope, but disciplined Tanzanian bowling and sharp fielding curtailed any momentum.
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Spinner Perice Kamunya played a pivotal role with the ball, claiming 2 for 10 in her 3-over spell, while Nasra Saidi cleaned up the lower order with 3 for 21.
Rwanda eventually finished on 105 for 8, falling 18 runs short of the target.
The loss leaves Rwanda in third place with two points, the same as Uganda, who were set to play their final group match against Kenya, winless at the bottom of the table, later on Wednesday evening.
Tanzania, meanwhile, now await the second-placed team from Group A for their semifinal clash.
Group A remained tightly contested as of Wednesday afternoon.
Hosts Namibia led the table with four points from three matches, closely followed by Zimbabwe, also on four points with a game in hand against Nigeria, who were third with two points. Sierra Leone finished bottom without a point.
