SOMETIMES a scorecard tells the story on its own. This was one of those days.
In a match where batting never looked straightforward, Namibia Women did enough with the bat and then backed it up with a disciplined performance in the field to secure a 39-run victory over Rwanda Women in the Victoria Series 2026 at Entebbe Cricket Ground.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Namibia finished on 98/8 from their 20 overs. It was not an innings built on big partnerships or rapid scoring. Instead, it was anchored by Kayleen Ann Green, whose 39 from 49 balls stood comfortably as the highest score of the match.
Green spent much of the innings rebuilding after wickets fell at regular intervals. Namibia lost captain Suné Wittmann in the third over and never really managed to put together a lengthy stand. Rwanda’s bowlers, led by Diane Marie Bimenyimana, kept the pressure on throughout.
Bimenyimana was again Rwanda’s standout performer with the ball, finishing with 3/23 from four overs. Her wickets included Mekelaye Mwatile (2), Merzerly Gorases (4) and the key dismissal of Green late in the innings.
While runs were difficult to find, Namibia picked up valuable contributions lower down the order. Wilka Mwatile struck 17 from 15 balls, including the innings’ only six, while Naomi Benjamin added 14 from 13 deliveries to help push the total towards the three-figure mark.
By the end of the innings, Namibia had reached 98/8. It was not an imposing score, but on a surface where timing proved difficult, it looked like a total that would require a determined chase.
Rwanda’s reply never found that rhythm.
The chase suffered an early setback when Fanny Utagushimaninde was bowled by Wilka Mwatile for a duck with just three runs on the board. One ball later, Belise Murekatete also departed without scoring, leaving Rwanda at 4/2 after the opening over.
From there, Namibia steadily tightened their grip. Rwanda struggled to build partnerships and found themselves losing wickets before any batter could turn a start into a significant contribution.
Gisele Ishimwe top-scored with 10, while Shakila Niyomuhoza made 9, but Namibia’s bowlers rarely allowed the innings to settle.
Wilka Mwatile gave Namibia the perfect start with the new ball, and Mekelaye Mwatile followed by removing both Shakila Niyomuhoza and Diane Marie Bimenyimana.
Green then capped an outstanding individual performance. After top-scoring with the bat, she returned figures of 3/10 from two overs, dismissing Gisele Ishimwe, Henriette Therese Ishimwe and Flora Irakoze to leave Rwanda deep in trouble.
With the lower order exposed, Arrasta Diergaardt picked up the final two wickets as Rwanda were bowled out for 59 in 17.5 overs.
