Rwanda extend dominance over Nigeria with win at Patricia Kambarami Cup
Rwanda Women delivered a composed all-round performance to secure a six-wicket victory over Nigeria at the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval on Tuesday, further tightening their grip on the fifth Nigeria Cricket Federation Women’s Invitational T20I tournament, known as the Patricia Kambarami Cup.
Batting first, Nigeria struggled to find rhythm from the outset and were eventually bowled out for a modest 90 in 19.1 overs. Rwanda’s disciplined bowling unit dictated proceedings, dismantling the top order with ruthless efficiency.
The hosts suffered an early collapse, losing captain Piety Lucky and Omosigho Eguakun with just five runs on the board. The slide continued as Kehinde Amusa, Salome Sunday, and Shola Adekunle all fell cheaply, leaving Nigeria in deep trouble before the end of the seventh over.
Amid the collapse, Esther Sandy emerged as the lone bright spark for Nigeria, crafting a determined 36 off 31 balls. Her resistance offered some respectability to the total, but it ultimately proved insufficient against a clinical Rwandan side.
In reply, Rwanda approached the chase with patience and control, even as Nigeria attempted to claw their way back into the contest. Lilian Ude briefly ignited hope for the hosts with two key wickets that unsettled Rwanda’s top order.
Additional breakthroughs from Amusa and Peace Usen added a flicker of tension, but Rwanda quickly regained composure. Their batters rebuilt steadily, managing the run chase with maturity and keeping the required rate firmly in check.
The visitors eventually reached 93 for four in 15.4 overs, sealing a comfortable victory that reinforced their dominance in the tournament.
With the win, Rwanda remain unbeaten at the summit of the standings, boasting eight points from four matches. Nigeria, on the other hand, sit second with four points from three games and will be aiming for a swift response when they face South Africa U-19 on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, South Africa U-19 strengthened their position with a 28-run win over Zimbabwe U-19, moving closer to Nigeria on the table and setting up an increasingly competitive race for the semi-final spots.
As the round-robin stage intensifies, only the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals, with all eyes now firmly set on Saturday’s final showdown.
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