Cricket
Zimbabwe HPC make early statement as Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament gets underway in Kigali
The 12th edition of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament burst into life at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, delivering drama, big hitting, and a pair of impressive victories for Zimbabwe High Performance Centre (HPC) on the opening day of competition.
The annual tournament, held in remembrance of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, runs from June 10 to June 20 in Kigali and once again carries valuable ICC Women’s T20 International ranking points, raising the stakes for all participating teams.
Three matches were played on Day One. Nigeria opened the tournament with a commanding 52-run victory over Malawi, while Zimbabwe HPC stole the spotlight by completing a winning double, defeating hosts Rwanda by three wickets before returning later in the day to overcome Brazil by 47 runs.
Zimbabwe HPC edge Rwanda in opening day thriller
The first match of the tournament produced a gripping contest between hosts Rwanda and Zimbabwe HPC.
Batting first, Rwanda posted a competitive 139/6 from their 20 overs. After an early setback when Fanny Utagushimaninde fell without scoring, Gisele Ishimwe provided momentum with an entertaining 24 from 25 deliveries that included two boundaries and a six.
Zimbabwe HPC’s bowlers kept the pressure on through the middle overs. Lindokuhle Mabhero, Michelle Mavunga, Nyasha Gwanzura and Olinder Chare all picked up wickets as Rwanda slipped from 40/2 to 65/6.
Just when the innings appeared in danger of stalling, Alice Ikuzwe and Belise Murekatete transformed the contest. Ikuzweanchored the finish with an unbeaten 19, while Murekatete unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, smashing 54 not out from just 23 deliveries. Her innings featured three fours and five towering sixes, lifting Rwanda to a challenging total of 139.
Zimbabwe HPC’s chase got off to an aggressive start, led by Kelly Ndiraya, who blasted 39 from 23 balls with five boundaries and two sixes. At 66/2, they appeared comfortably in control, but Rwanda fought back magnificently.
Henriette Ishimwe delivered a brilliant spell, removing Ndiraya and Zimbabwe captain Adel Zimunu in successive deliveries. Marie Bimenyimana and Rosine Irera also struck, reducing Zimbabwe HPC to 66/5 and swinging momentum firmly towards the home side.
The match hung in the balance until Runyararo Pasipanodya produced a composed and mature innings under pressure. Her unbeaten 40 from 36 deliveries steadied the chase and guided Zimbabwe HPC through the tense closing stages.
With support from Michelle Mavunga and a late flourish from wicketkeeper Vimbai Mutungwindu, Zimbabwe HPC crossed the finish line at 140 for 7 with 10 balls remaining, sealing a hard-fought three-wicket victory.
Pasipanodya’s match-winning contribution earned her the Player of the Match award and ensured Zimbabwe HPC began their campaign with a crucial victory.
Gwanzura’s masterclass powers Zimbabwe HPC past Brazil
If the opening match showcased Zimbabwe HPC’s resilience, their second game demonstrated their firepower.
Facing Brazil in the afternoon fixture, Zimbabwe HPC produced the most dominant batting performance of the day thanks to an extraordinary innings from Nyasha Gwanzura.
After losing early wickets and finding themselves under some pressure at 13/2, Zimbabwe HPC needed a rescue act. Gwanzura delivered one of the innings of the tournament’s early stages.
The powerful batter tore into the Brazilian attack, striking 14 fours and seven sixes in a breathtaking 115 from only 60 deliveries. Her innings accounted for more than three-quarters of Zimbabwe HPC’s total and completely shifted the momentum of the contest.
Partnered briefly by Michelle Mavunga, who contributed 13, Gwanzura carried the innings almost single-handedly as Zimbabwe HPC amassed 153/6 from their 20 overs.
Brazil’s bowlers showed admirable persistence. Maria Ribeiro and Lara Moisés claimed two wickets each, while Nicole Monteiro also struck twice, but there was little answer to Gwanzura’s relentless boundary-hitting.
Chasing 154, Brazil’s hopes rested heavily on captain Laura Cardoso. She responded with a determined 48 from 40 balls, featuring seven boundaries and a six, keeping her side in the hunt through the middle overs.
However, once Cardoso fell, Zimbabwe HPC tightened their grip; the bowling attack shared the workload impressively. Michelle Mavunga removed two key batters, Nyasha Gwanzura followed up her century with two wickets, and Kudzai Chigora produced a devastating spell to rip through the lower order.
Chigora finished with outstanding figures of 5/10 from 3.1 overs as Brazil were dismissed for 106 in 18.1 overs.
The result handed Zimbabwe HPC a convincing 47-run victory and completed a perfect opening day.
Unsurprisingly, Gwanzura was named Player of the Match after her remarkable all-round performance of 115 runs and 2 wickets.
At the close of Day One, Zimbabwe HPC emerged as one of the early teams to watch after collecting two victories from two matches. Nigeria also made an immediate statement with their convincing 52-run triumph over Malawi, while Rwanda and Brazil will look to bounce back after spirited but unsuccessful performances.
Action resumes on Thursday at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium with another busy schedule. Nigeria face Brazil, while Rwanda take on Malawi in the morning session. The afternoon fixture will see Nigeria return to action against Zimbabwe HPC in what promises to be one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament so far.
With ICC ranking points on offer and ten days of competition still ahead, the 12th Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament has already delivered memorable performances and compelling cricket, setting the stage for an exciting week and a half in Kigali.
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- Tournament: ILT20 Cup
- Dates: September 1-14
- Host: Kigali, Rwanda
Riazat Ali Shah will lead the Cricket Cranes at the ILT20 Cup scheduled for September 1st – 14th in Kigali, Rwanda.
Steve Tikolo has made wholesome changes to the squad, with most of the players from the Challenge League B tournament in Tanzania missing.
Riazat Ali Shah and Kenneth Waiswa retain their roles as Captain and Vice Captain, respectively, but Simon Ssesazi, Henry Ssenyondo, Raghav Dhawan, Dinesh Nakrani, Sumeet Verma, and Alpesh Ramjani miss out.
Robinson Obuya, Ronald Lutaaya, Anas Baig, Charles Mushemeza, Enock Kasaija, Matthew Musinguzi and Fahad Mutagana get their chance in the Cricket Cranes yellow.
Joseph Baguma, youngster Gerald Olipa, Juma Miyaji, Cosmas Kyewuta and Cyrus Kakuru keep their places from the tournament that happened in Tanzania.
Uganda is the defending champion of the tournament, and they will have to run through six other teams to win the title for the third time in a row.
Hosts Rwanda, Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Nigeria will be part of the tournament.
Full Cricket Cranes Squad: Riazat Ali Shah (C), Kenneth Waiswa (VC), Juma Miyaji, Cosmas Kyewuta, Joseph Baguma, Gerald Olipa, Cyrus Kakuru, Enock Kasaija, Matthew Musinguzi, Fahad Mutagana, Ronald Lutaaya, Robinson Obuya, Charles Mushemeza, Anas Baig.
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Cricket
Defending champions Mwiri get going, Devansh Patel hits ton as favourites dominate on Day 2 of Boys Cricket Week
Match Day Two | Morning Results
Jinja SS 135/6
St. Cornelius 68/10
Jinja SS won by 67 runs
Kira College 107/4
Ntare School 111/6
Ntare School won by 4 wickets
Busoga College 128/10
Gulu HS 99/10
Busoga College 29 runs
Olila HS 78/10
Rwenzori 54/10
Olila HS won by 24 runs
St.James’ SS 90/9
St. John’s SS 91/1
St. John’s won by 9 wickets
Shree Sahajanand 112/8
Lango College 96/10
Shree Sahajanand won by 16 runs
Match Day Two | Afternoon Results
Shree Sahajanand 189/3
Olila HS 76/10
Shree Sahajanand won by 113 runs
GoodHeart 75/7
St. John’s 76/4
St. John’s won by 6 wickets
Shree International 63/10
Busoga College 64/4
Busoga College won by 6 wickets
Ntare School 116/7
Gulu 100/10
Ntare won by 16 runs
St. Cornelius SS 114/8
Uganda Martyrs 59/10
St. Cornelius SS won by 55 runs
St. James’ SS 134/6
Ndejje SS 114/4
St. James’ SS won by 20 runs
Defending champions Busoga College Mwiri started their quest for the 21st Boys Cricket Week title with easy wins against Gulu High School and Shree International School.
Mwiri are missing some key players due to the FESSSA games in Morogoro, but they were still good enough to pick up two wins that took them to top spot in Group A.
Ntare School is in second spot in the same group after picking two wins of their own against Kiira College Butiki and Gulu High School.
The top 2 sides in each group will advance to the Super 8, which is the business end of the tournament.
In Group B, St John’s SSS Kauga continue to show their intentions and have maintained their 100% so far in the tournament with a six-wicket win against GoodHeart SS.
The 2025 semifinalists are counting on the experience of U-19 stars Jackson Asiku and Ali Balidawa to get them over the line. Masaka SSS will be their competition for top spot in Group B and the clash between the two tomorrow should decide the group winner.
Newcomer Soroti SSS is on the top step in Group C, but they have former champions Jinja SSS with an interest in progression, while hosts Nyakasura School, in their own backyard, will be interested in winning their first title.
Devansh Patel backed up his reputation as one of the stars of the tournament with a dominant century against Olila High School. Shree Sahajand made the semifinals in 2025, and with the playing field very even this year, they know they have a chance of winning their first title.
The U-19 superstar plundered 11 maximums and 10 boundaries en route to 125 off 57 balls, with his side racking up the highest total of the tournament thus far. It is a clean record of three out of three for the Central Region winners.
Action will continue on Match Day 3 across six different venues in Fort Portal.
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Cricket
Soroti SS nick former champions Jinja SS as Masaka SS, Nyakasura and St John’s Kauga get off the mark
Morning Results:
St. Cornelius 48/10
Nyakasura 49/2
Nyakasura won by 8 wickets
Lango College 150/6
Kasese SS 38/10
Lango College won by 112 runs
Soroti SS 79/10
Jinja SS 73/10
Soroti SS won by 6 runs
Masaka SS 86/9
Goodheart SS 72/7
Masaka SS won by 14 runs
Kira College 144/5
Shree 78/10
Kira College won by 66 runs.
Afternoon Results
Rwenzori HS 55/10
Shree SSU 61/0
Shree SSU won by 10 wickets
St.John’s 150/4
Ndejje 49/7
St.John’s won by 101 runs
Soroti SS 125/6
Uganda Martyrs College 87/10
Soroti won by 38 runs
St.James 130/6
GoodHeart 71/10
St.James won by 59 runs
Olila HS 76/9
Lango College 78/5
Lango College won by 5 wickets.
Gulu HS 140/7
Shree International 67/9
Gulu won by 73 runs
The highlight result on Matchday 1 of the Sky View Schools Cricket Week was a win by Soroti SSS against former champions Jinja SSS.
When Jinja SSS was winning their first Wricket Week championship, Soroti SSS was only starting to build a cricketing culture.
However, the growth of the game in Soroti is being reflected in the results, with Jinja SSS on the wrong end of the result against Soroti SSS.
In a low-scoring game, Jinja SSS dispatched Soroti SSS for a low total, but their lack of initiative in the run chase failed them, and they ended up falling short by 6 runs.
It is a memorable result for Soroti SSS but worrying signs for Jinja SSS, who will have to win all their remaining games to get out of the group.
In the other morning results, hosts Nyakasura made light work of St Cornellius in a low-scoring game. St Cornellius are one of the debutants.
Masaka SSS battled hard to get past a resilient GoodHeart SSS as they look to push for a semifinal place for the first time.
Lango College, on their debut, overwhelmed Kasese SSS in a big win while Kiira College Butiki put away Shree International.
In the afternoon, 2025 finalists St John’s Mukono Kauga pushed aside Ndejje SSS in a dominant win to lay down the gauntlet as one of the favourites.
Soroti SSS followed up their win in the morning with another win against St Martyrs Sonde to make it two in two and continue their charge to make it to the Super 8.
Lango College picked up a second win in the day by defeating Olila High School by 5 wickets.
Shree Sahajand Uganda picked up a big 10-wicket win against Rwenzori High School to underline their title credentials.
Newcomers, Soroti SSS and Lango College, were the biggest winners on Match Day One of the championship.
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