Namibia and Kenya reach final of Kwibuka Women’s Cricket Twenty 20 tournament

Bowler Lavender Alivista Kenya National Cricket Ladies Team training at Nairobi Simba Club ahead of the upcoming Kwibuka T20 Tournament to be held in Rwanda. June 3, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The final match of the Kwibuka Women's Twenty20 Tournament will be played between Namibia and Kenya at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Rwanda on Saturday.

The finals comes after Kenya women’s cricket team defeated Rwanda by 52 runs in the semi-final of the tournament.

Kenya will now face Namibia in the final slated for today June 12th at Gahanga Stadium in Rwanda.

Namibia had earlier overpowered Nigeria by 91 runs in the first semifinal.

Kenya National Cricket Ladies Team, who are the most decorated side in the tournament’s history with three titles, elected to bat first after winning the toss and proceeded to put on a show of their limitless batting firepower.

Kenya National Cricket Ladies Team [PHOTO COURTESY]

Queentor Abel (14 runs off 13 balls), Captain Margaret Banja Ngoche (38 runs off 48 balls), Sharon Juma (11 runs off 15 balls) and Player of the Match Sarah Bhakita Wetoto (20 runs off 15 balls) chanced their arms at everything within their zones and never shied away from attacking right from the onset of their innings.

Their resolve laid the foundation of their score of 117 runs and despite losing six wickets with Margueritte Vumiliya (2 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs) starring, they were confident they had set enough for their bowlers to work with.

Rwanda having scored 104 runs in the semifinal dress rehearsal against Kenya on Thursday, were confident of springing a surprise. But they got a taste of their own medicine when Kenya summoned all its experience and exposure garnered over years to stifle their run chase.

Kenya used only one pace bowler Lavendah Alivista Idambo (1 wicket for 14 runs in 2 overs). And with Rwanda’s openers Delphine Mukarurangwa (16 runs off 30 balls) and Gisele Ishimwe (6 runs off 10 balls) using her pace to freely score, Banja turned to the slow bowlers – four in total.

Melvin Khagoiza Idambo (1 wicket for 12 runs), Queentor Abel (1 wicket for 11 runs) and Esther Wangari Wachira (1 wicket for 23 runs) bowled economical four-over spells. But it was Wetoto, who picked up the Player of the Match Award, with a parsimonious spell of 2 wickets for 5 runs in 2.5 overs.  Her three overs also accounted for three run-outs and she also had a fielding dismissal to her credit.