DAY 3 MATCH REPORTS FOR THE NCF WOMEN’S T20 INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

• Rwanda defeats a much improved Sierra Leone team by 5 wickets to record their second win of the tournament.

• Belise Murekatete of Rwanda was named player of the match with impressive bowling statistics of 4 wickets in 4 overs, sparing 17 runs only.

• History made at the TBS Cricket Oval as Cameroon shock Ghana with a comprehensive 31 runs victory to earn their first win in the tournament.

DAY 3: MATCH 1
*Rwanda vs Sierra Leone

Defending Champion of this tournament Rwanda playing their second match was up against Sierra Leone who were comfortable winners by 7 wickets against Ghana in their second match.

Sierra Leone won the toss and elected to bat first, sending Rwanda in to bowl. Sierra Leone struggled with the pacers from Rwanda and lost 2 quick wickets in the first 3 overs managing just 15 runs. At the end of the power play over of 6’, Sierra Leone were 21 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. The runs came in bits but Sierra Leone unable to sustain a decent partnership meant they could not build any momentum.

In the end, Sierra Leone could only manage a total of 56 runs all out in 19.1 overs.

Fatu Pessima was the only batter to manage double figures with 12 runs off 34 balls as the best performer for her team.

Belise Murekatete was spectacular with the ball for Rwanda taking 4 wickets, conceding 17 runs in 4 overs, supported by Vumiliya Margueritte with 2 wickets conceding 9 runs in 4 overs.

In the second innings, Sierra Leone started brightly with the 1st wicket off the 2nd ball and continued to bowl tidy line and lengths, limited runs on the board meant that Rwanda were not under pressure at any point in the game regardless of 5 key wickets lost. Quick fire 17 runs off 13 balls from Ishimwe Henriette and 12 runs off 11 balls from Ishimwe Giselle ensured no late surprises from Sierra Leone.

Rwanda eventually scored the required total of 57 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 9.1 overs.

Alice Fillie was outstanding with the ball for Sierra Leone taking 3 wickets, conceding 19 runs in 3.1 overs.

Belise Murekatete was named player of the match.

Rwanda won by 5 wickets

DAY 3: MATCH 2
Cameroon vs Ghana

In a must win match for both teams and with plenty reasons, Cameroon and Ghana locked horns in match 6 of the NCF Women’s T-20 Women’s International tournament.

Cameroon won the toss and elected to bat first sending in Ghana to field. Ghana started well with the ball getting a wicket in the first over but Cameroon scored some quick boundaries to get back into the game. Wickets fell side by side the runs piling to leave the game in a balance on 38 runs for the loss of 3 wickets after 6 overs of power play.

The game progressed in like fashion for most of the innings as the table turned between both games till there was a late surge from Cameroon to record the second highest score of the tournament which is 95 runs for the loss 9 wickets in 20 overs.

Madeleine Nseke scored 22 runs off 40 balls, Abele Tchouabo 14 runs off19 balls and 10 runs off 14 balls as the best bowling contributions for Cameroon.

Rashidat Salia got 3 wickets, conceding 19 runs strongly supported by Komalpreet Grewal with 2 wickets, conceding 19 runs in 3 overs for Ghana.

The second innings began just like the first with Ghana losing a wicket in the first over. Sierra Leone continued to pile the pressure that caused serious problems for the Ghanaian battling line up, losing 5 wickets for 25 runs at the end of the power play overs. Cameroon held on to record a famous and historic victory over Ghana as the tales of two emerging nations in Women’s Cricket ended in grief and celebration depending on what side of the divide you belong. For neutrals, it was a win-win situation as the development of Women’s Cricket in Africa became more evident quite clearly, even for the blind to see and loud enough for the deaf to hear.

In the end, Ghana was restricted to a total of 56 runs all out 12.2 overs.

Abele Tchouabo was most clinical with the ball for Cameroon with 3 wickets, conceding 16 runs in 3 overs, while Clement Manidom supported with 2 wickets, conceding 5 runs in 2 overs.

Manuella Aboui Mbida was named player of the match.

Cameroon won by 39 runs

TOURNAMENT FIXTURES

THURSDAY 30TH MARCH
Rest Day

FRIDAY 31ST MARCH
Ghana vs Nigeria (9:30am)
Rwanda vs Cameroon (1:30pm)

SATURDAY 1ST APRIL
Sierra Leone vs Cameroon (9:30am)
Nigeria vs Rwanda (1:30pm)

SUNDAY 2ND APRIL
3rd Place (9:30am)
Final (1:30pm)

MONDAY 3RD APRIL
Departure

Ends…………….

MUSA EHIZOJE BODIE
PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER