The Gahanga Cricket Stadium was on Saturday, June 12, lit with a spectacular show to conclude the seventh edition of Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament in style after Kenya pulled off a good performance to stun Namibia in the final to be crowned champions for the fourth time in the tournament’s history. Times Sport takes a look at key highlights of the tournament: Kenyans are in a league of their own The formbook was ripped to shreds as Kenya added the title of the seventh edition of the Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 to their trophy cabinet after a commanding 7-wicket victory over pre-tournament favourites Namibia at Gahanga Stadium on Saturday, June 12. It was the Kenyan’s record fourth title at the 10-day event played in memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Kenya had lost to Namibia in their last three meetings at different International Cricket Council (ICC) events with the most recent defeat coming in the round-robin phase of this year’s edition when the Southern Africans triumphed by 36 runs. But in the do-or-die final, there was a rare quality to the Kenya women’s display that couldn’t possibly have been discerned in their previous outings. Kenyan captain Margaret Banja Ngoche lost the pre-match toss and Namibia’s Irene van Zyl opted to bat first – a previously successful trend they had followed to the script in all matches. Namibia caught cold It wasn’t a good day for the Namibians who reached the final undefeated but a defeat to Kenya came as nothing but a surprise. Backed by a strong vociferous Kenyan contingent from their home country plus those living and working in Rwanda, Banja’s bowling arsenal found early rhythm and had extra spring in their step. One early dropped chance of Adri van der Merwe (5 runs off 9 balls) by Queentor Abel at the long-on boundary was the only blip in Kenya’s clinical bowling and fielding display that had only three extras as the East Africans bundled out the Capricorn Eagles for 69 runs all out in 15.5 overs. Wickets tumbled in quick succession thanks to an absurd mix of poor running between the wickets and an energetic fielding display that could have been envied by any top cricketing nation. There was only one worthy partnership – a 29-run one for the third wicket – between wicketkeeper Yasmeen Khan (11 runs off 16 balls) and Kayleen-Ann Green (15 runs off 18 balls). But Kenya vice-captain Sarah Bhakita Wetoto ignited the collapse properly when she dived forward to send Green packing at 42 runs for 4 wickets in 8.5 overs. Wetoto then went on to spin her way to a third Player of Match Award with a second five-wicket haul in the showpiece. She showed her mastery of the art of spin bowling with a lot of deceptive flight and accurate lines in her spell that accounted for 6 wickets for only 16 runs as the last five Namibian wickets fell for 24 runs. Wetoto also received the Match Ball – her second of the tournament - from Tournament Referee Emmanuel Byiringiro. Good consolation for Rwanda The hosts were hoping this would be their turn to finally win the Kwibuka T20 title for the first time since its inception in 2014 but they will have to wait and try again in future editions after being eliminated by Kenya in the semis. But there was no shame in how they finished their campaign with a sweet double over Nigeria to take the third-place diadem after their 8-run win in the curtain-raiser for the final – The Bronze Match. Diane Marie Bimenyimana played an important role in victory over the West Africans after pulling off a deservedly Player of the Match performance with 12 runs in the first innings and then 2 wickets for 12 runs at the death of the innings to subject Nigeria to defeat. Finalists share individual prizes Kenyans had the last laugh when they overcame Namibia who were touted as the tournament’s favorites. The two countries’ representatives dominated individual awards at the colorful awarding ceremony. Kenya’s Queentor Abel (30 points) was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Tournament as Best Bowler’s Award went to her compatriot Sarah Bhakita Wetoto (17 wickets) while Namibia’s Sune Wittmann’s 167 runs earned her double prize as the Best Batter and Sixer of the tournament. Meanwhile, Botswana took the Fair Play Award despite finishing bottom of the table. The individual award winners also got mobile phones. Team of the tournament The tournament was definitely home to a host of exceptional individuals who made a difference for their respective teams during the campaign. Despite losing the final to Kenya, Namibia recorded the biggest number of players in the team of the tournament with five representatives in Sune Wittmann, Yasmeen Khan, Adri van der Merwe, Kayleen-Ann Green and Victoria Hamunyela. Champions Kenya (Sarah Bhakita Wetoto, Queentor Abel and Margaret Banja Ngoche) and host nation Rwanda (Henriette Ishimwe, Cathia Uwamahoro and Diane Marie Bimenyimana) each got three players in the team. Botswana and Nigeria had two representatives in Blessing Etim and Salome Sunday while Namibia’s Amantle Mokgotlhe completed the team of the series roster.
