Rwanda’s U19 women national team on Tuesday bounced back from Pakistan narrow defeat to win a crucial encounter against Zimbabwe to a famous victory in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup by 39 runs during the African counterparts’ second group B crunch tie in South Africa.
The win, the first at an ICC World Cup, bolstered Rwanda’s chances of making it to the Super Six stage of the tournament.
Merveille Uwase (18 from 33) and Cynthia Tuyizere (30 from 44) were watchful yet solid in a partnership of 49, as Rwanda focused on saving their wickets in the first 10 overs.
An aggressive knock from skipper Gisele Ishimwe (34 from 23) guided them to a competitive total of 119/8 for the Zimbabweans to chase.
Coming off a number of poor batting performances, Zimbabwe, who won the toss to bowl first, were immediately put under pressure by a disciplined Rwanda.
By the 12th over, the asking rate had jumped to over eight runs an over. After the settled Kelly Ndiraya (20 from 38) fell to a brilliant diving catch from Sylvia Usabyimana, Zimbabwe lost the plot and never came close to their target. Serial baller Henriette Ishimwe ended their misery with a double hat-trick (4/13).
Ishimwe’s historic moment came in the penultimate over with Zimbabwe on 80/6 and needing something of a miracle finish to reach their target of 120 to win.
The 19-year-old went full and straight with her first delivery of the over to the new batter Kudzai Chigora, who swung across the line and saw her stumps dismantled.
Olinder Cjare was her next victim, trapped in front by an in-ducker. And the hat-trick ball saw left-hander Chipo Moyo cleaned up by a magnificent yorker, with Ishimwe embraced by her jubilant teammates as the celebrations of a famous win began.
More was still to come for Ishimwe off the fourth ball of her over, as she cannoned a full ball off the back pad of the number 11 Faith Ndlalambi and into the stumps to wrap up the win and complete her brilliant double hat-trick – as four wickets in four balls is typically known.
The moment of magic came just a day after South African spinner Madison Landsman took the first hat-trick at an U19 Women’s T20 World Cup against Scotland.
But Ishimwe’s contribution has even more contextual significance, completing not just her side’s first win at this tournament, but Rwanda’s first win ever at an ICC World Cup in any format.
The win saw Leonard Nhamburo's side climb to second on the table behind England, their next and last group opponent. The leaders were unstoppable again on Tuesday as they beat Pakistan in another second group B game by 53 runs.