Series: Nigeria Invitational 2022
Venue: TBS Cricket Oval
Format: T20I
Toss: Ghana
Result: Rwanda by 81 runs
History created at the TBS Oval for the first match in the NCF Invitational 2022 when Ghana took on Rwanda. This was the first T20 International played by Ghana and they celebrated by winning the toss.
The other piece of history of note, the newly laid turf wicket having replaced the old artificial surface – this was the first international match played on the new pitch. The ground staff did a tremendous job, the centre wicket square a picture, and likely to be the scene of many an epic match in years to come.
After Ghana’s Rhyda Ofori won the toss she sent Rwanda in to bat, a reasonable option for the beginning of the team’s career. Get them all out onto the field together for the first taste of international cricket.
Left-arm medium bowler Cynthia Konadu delivered the first ball for Ghana. The slow, hooping, medium pace will be a problem for batters in the future and she reminds one of Bangladesh’s Fariha Trisna.
Gisele Ishimwe opened the batting with Sarah Uwera and was in sparkling form, but it was of some surprise that Uwera fell for a duck, giving Kate Awuah the first wicket to a Ghana bowler, and Rwanda 16/1.
The second wicket partnership between Ishimwe and Cathia Uwamahoro was just as busy as the first. What was particularly evident from the beginning and right throughout the innings was the running between wickets. Ishimwe fell for 35 when the score was 63 and Rwanda reached the halfway point 65/2.
The captain, Diane Bimenyimana, came to the crease and continued to push the run rate, but all around her the wickets tumbled. Once Uwamahoro was dismissed for 15, no other player reached double figures. The captain departed for 26 and the remaining batters scrambled to 135/9. Quite a reasonble score but it could have been so much more.
Best with the ball for Ghana were the trio of right-arm pace bowlers, Miriam Eshum (3-21), Emmanuella Nyaaba (2-14) and Kate Awuah (2-18)
Two key things were evident during the Ghana innings. They struggled, for sure, with only Ellen Asante reaching double figures, but the team batted out the full 20 overs which is a very good sign. The other? The leg spin of Margueritte Vumiliya has lost none of it’s magic and she ended with 4-8 earning her Player of the Match. Ghana finished with 54/9. They will be better for the run, while Rwanda earned two poins for their 81 run victory.
Scores:
Rwanda 135/9 (Gisele Ishimwe 35, Diane Bimenyimana 26, Miriam Eshum 3-21, Emmanuella Nyaaba 2-14, Kate Awuah 2-18) 2 overs
Ghana 54/9 (Ellen Asante 12, Margueritte Vumiliya 4-8, Immaculee Muhawenimana 2-5) 20 overs
Player of the Match: Margueritte Vumiliya
