Allround Rwanda too good for Botswana in Kwibuka T20 opener

Rwanda began their Kwibuka T20 tournament campaign in rollicking style as they romped home to a eight-wicket win against Botswana in an allround bowling performance that saw Botswana get bowled out for just 29 runs at the Gahanga International Stadium in Kigali on Sunday (June 6).



Put into bat, Botswana were off to a rocky start with Belyse Murakatete striking in the second over to remove Shameelah Mosweu for just one. Soon they lost their skipper Laura Mophakedi and vice-captain Florence Samanyika for one each with Immaculee Muhawenimana trapping Mophakedi in front before castling Samanyika to be reduced to 13 for three inside the first three overs.



From there, Botswana lost two more wickets at the same score when Botho Freeman was run out and Jacqueline Kgang was trapped in front by Belyse Murekatete. With the score reading 13 for five, they couldn’t dig themselves out of the hole and were bowled out for 29 in the 11^th over with 15 extras contributing the most to the total score.



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Among the Botswana batters, Botsogo Mpedi was the highest-scorer with five runs to her name before falling to Alice Ikuzwe. Four of them went back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers while top four batters were dismissed adding only one run each to their score.



For Rwanda, Ikuzwe was the most successful bowler with figures of three for five in three overs while Muhawenimana picked up three for 11.



Chasing only 30 to win, Diane Ishimwe and Gisele Ishimwe added 14 runs in quick time for Rwanda with Diane hitting two boundaries. Diane was dismissed to a run out by Freeman for nine in the second over. The hosts lost Gisele when she got out for three with the score reading 15 in 3.2 overs.



However, skipper Sarah Uwera and Diane Bimenyimana took Rwanda home without any further troubles in the sixth over. Uwera became the first player to reach double-figure in the match as she remained not out on ten.







For Botswana, Amantle Mokgotlhe took the wicket of Gisele.



Brief Scores: Botswana 29/10 in 10.1 overs (Alice Ikuzwe 3/5, Immaculee Muhawenimana 3/11) lost to Rwanda 31/2 in 5.2 overs (Sarah Uwera 10*; Amantle Mokgotlhe 1/8) by 8 wickets. POTM: Alice Ikuzwe