The friendly CHOGM Cricket Exhibition match held Thursday, June 23, at Gahanga Cricket Stadium ended in favor of the Africa Select team after beating Commonwealth Select team by 25 runs. The match attracted a number of delegates from all walks of life attending the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) who gathered at the oval. The likes of Arsenal legendary goalkeeper David Seaman, New Zealand cricket legendary Kruger Van and his Indian counterpart Dodda Ganesh were the celebrities to watch in the match playing for the Commonwealth Select XI alongside local cricketers Gisele Ishimwe, Henriette Ishimwe, Eric Dusingizimana and Rwanda’s cricket export Clinton Rubagumya. The team was up against Africa Select XI which features a mix of former and current African best cricketers like former Zimbabwe cricket greats Hamilton Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura as they were joined by their old friend Leonard Nhamburo who is the current head coach of Rwanda’s women national cricket team. The trio were joined by the best female cricketers who impressed at the just-concluded Kwibuka Women’s T20 tournament including Kenya’s Queentor Abel, Tanzania’s Nasra Nasoro and Uganda’s Janet Mbabazi and Rwanda’s skipper Diane Bimenyimana. It was Africa Select XI who won the toss and chose to bat first as they managed 154/3 in 20 overs, a score that Seaman and his teammates needed to by just one run to win the game. However, Britain’s team failed to reach the margin thanks to Africa Select XI’s perfect teamwork in fielding and bowling. The Commonwealth select XI’s chased 129/7 in 20 overs but the score was not enough for them to win the match and Africa Select XI instead came out victorious by 25 runs. But, all in all, the Cricket game won during the match as former players, current cricket executives, commonwealth officials and future cricket stars were brought together to celebrate the game. Organized as part of CHOGM 2022 Sports event, the match was officially inaugurated by Sports Minister Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju together with Dame Louise Martine, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
