RWANDA squeezed out a dramatic two-run victory over USA in the Victoria Series 2026 after defending a modest total of 107 at Entebbe Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Asked to bat first after the USA elected to field, Rwanda never fully broke free but found enough contributions throughout the innings to reach 107 for 5 from their 20 overs.
Fanny Utagushimaninde gave the innings early momentum with 21 from 17 balls, while captain Diane Marie Bimenyimana and Gisele Ishimwe each made 20. When wickets fell at regular intervals through the middle overs, Rwanda’s scoring slowed, but late runs from Henriette Therese Ishimwe and Belise Murekatete pushed the total beyond the 100 mark.
The main threat with the ball came from USA captain Aditiba Indrajitsinh Chudasama, who finished with an impressive 3 for 15 in three overs. She removed three of Rwanda’s top five batters and nearly put the brakes on the innings.
On a surface where runs were difficult to come by, the chase never quite settled for the Americans.
Isani Mahesh Vaghela’s 28 was the highest score of the innings, but Rwanda consistently found ways to break partnerships before they could develop. Chetna Reddy Pagydyala, Ella Caterina Claridge and Vaghela all got starts without going on to produce the innings the chase demanded.
The match remained alive until the final over with Nikhar Doshi and Taranum Chopra at the crease. Their unbeaten stand carried the USA to 105 for 4, but Rwanda’s bowlers had already done enough, leaving the Americans two runs short of victory.
Captain Diane Marie Bimenyimana led from the front with the ball, claiming 2 for 26, while Ruth Uwimana produced the most economical spell of the match, taking 2 for 13 from four overs, including a maiden.
For her all-round contribution and key wickets in the chase, Diane Marie Bimenyimana was named Player of the Match.
The win earned Rwanda two tournament points and was built less on explosive batting than disciplined bowling, sharp fielding and composure in the closing stages when the match could easily have slipped away.
