Nigeria's women's cricket team, the YellowGreens, began their Kwibuka T20 Tournament campaign with a dominant 52-run victory over Malawi at the Gahanga 2 Cricket Oval in Kigali on Tuesday. The win sets a positive tone for the Nigerian side as they aim to compete against top international teams for the Kwibuka trophy.
After being asked to bat first, Nigeria posted a competitive total of 98 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Jessica Bieni anchored the innings with an unbeaten 25 runs, while Sarah Etim (14), Favour Eseigbe (11), and Christabel Chukwuonye (11) made valuable contributions to help the team recover from early setbacks. Malawi's Lucky Malino was the standout bowler, taking four wickets, but Nigeria's lower order showed resilience to reach a defendable score.
In response, the YellowGreens delivered a clinical bowling and fielding performance, dismissing Malawi for just 46 runs in 10.3 overs. Player of the Match Shola Adekunle led the attack with figures of 3 for 15, while Henrietta Mbam chipped in with 2 for 16. Captain Favour Eseigbe wrapped up the match in style, taking two wickets in three balls without conceding a run.
Captain Eseigbe praised her team's fighting spirit after the match. "Our plan was to score above 120, but credit to the Malawi bowlers for their disciplined performance. However, we had a Plan B and never gave up. Even when batting became tough, we stayed patient, rotated the strike, and kept the scoreboard moving. Regardless of the total, we were ready to defend it."
She added, "One of the biggest positives is the team's mindset. We don't relent when things get hard; we keep searching for solutions. I want to thank my teammates and the coaching staff for their unwavering support. Before the second innings, everyone knew it would be a battle, and they were ready to fight. That determination showed on the field, and we came out victorious."
The victory provides a significant boost as Nigeria prepares for their next match against Brazil at the same venue on Wednesday. The team now looks forward to building momentum in the tournament.
