Captain Lucky Piety Targets Kwibuka T20 Victory After Kambarami Cup Triumph
For Lucky Piety, one championship is simply not enough. The captain of the Nigerian women's cricket team, still savoring her squad's recent victory over Rwanda in the final of the NCF Women's T20i Invitational Tournament, known as the Kambarami Cup, believes that true success will only be achieved when she leads her country to victory at the upcoming Kwibuka T20 Tournament in Rwanda and secures a spot in the World Cup. Piety asserts that these ambitious goals are within reach if the team maintains its current trajectory of growth and improvement.
Overcoming Early Doubts with a Resilient Mindset
Prior to Saturday's final, which also featured teams from South Africa and Zimbabwe's U-19 squads, as well as Ghana's national side, few cricket enthusiasts gave the Nigerian women much chance of defeating Rwanda, who had previously dominated the hosts in a group stage match. However, Piety and her teammates had other plans. In an interview with The Guardian, Piety revealed that the initial loss served as a crucial wake-up call, prompting the team to elevate their performance.
Reflecting on the contrast between the first game and the final against Rwanda, Piety explained, "It is just the mindset; we left the first game behind and focused on the next. This is a strong team always working to get better. We have our weaknesses, but we try to build on our strengths and correct our lapses." She added, "Now that we have won this, we will focus on the Kwibuka Cup, which has a different strategy. As the president has said, this is the beginning. We hope to continue working hard and doing our best to get to the biggest stage."
A Thrilling Final Match with Dramatic Twists
In the Kambarami Cup final, a clash between two familiar rivals with a history spanning seven years, Nigeria won the toss and opted to bat first, aiming to set a defendable total. The early overs were challenging, marked by dot balls and a surprising maiden fourth over, as Nigeria struggled to gain momentum. After six overs of batting power play, Nigeria Women had scored 27 runs for the loss of one wicket.
The tide began to turn when Esther Sandy entered the crease, injecting energy with a few boundaries to revive Nigeria's innings. Unfortunately, her contribution was cut short when she was run out after scoring 26 runs off 28 balls. Captain Piety then stepped in, hitting a couple of boundaries but was caught out for 17 runs off 15 balls in the 13.3rd over, with Nigeria at 62 runs for two wickets.
From that point, Nigeria's batting collapsed, losing the next seven wickets for a combined 18 runs, finishing with a modest total of 80 runs all out in 20 overs. Rwanda's captain, Marie Diane Bimenyimana, capped off the innings with a hat-trick of wickets, bringing her tournament total to 14 and leading the wicket-taking charts.
Nigeria's Defensive Mastery Secures Victory
In the second innings, Nigeria's opening bowlers maintained tight lines, conceding only three runs in the first two overs. Rwanda remained patient, scoring their first boundary in the third over to reach seven runs. Peace Usen then struck back with two quick wickets, dismissing the dangerous Fanny and Giselle, leaving Rwanda at 19 runs after five overs.
By the end of the batting power play, Rwanda Women were at 23 runs for two wickets. Nigeria secured another breakthrough when Clarisse Umutoniwase was dismissed for nine runs off 14 balls, with Rwanda at 35 runs after 10 overs. The match intensified as Nigeria dragged the game to a tense situation, with Rwanda needing 30 runs off 30 balls and five wickets remaining.
Two wickets taken by Piety shifted the momentum in Nigeria's favor for the first time, as Rwanda required 24 runs off 20 balls. Three more wickets fell quickly, with the last pair needing 17 runs off 11 balls. In a dramatic finale filled with excitement and panic for both teams, Nigeria emerged victorious, defending the lowest total in the tournament's history. Rwanda finished agonizingly short with 71 runs all out in 20 overs, giving Nigeria a nine-run win and the 2026 championship title.
Individual Accolades and Future Aspirations
Peace Usen, who claimed three wickets for 18 runs in four overs, was named player of the match for the third time in six games. Despite the loss, Rwanda's Marie Diane Bimenyimana earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, while Zimbabwe's Beloved Biza was recognized as the Best Batter. Nigeria's Peace Usen also received the Best Bowler crown, and Chukuonye Christabel, another Nigerian player, won the Best Fielder award.
In the third-place match, South Africa Women's U-19 team defeated their Zimbabwean counterparts by 70 runs to secure the bronze medal. As Piety and her team celebrate their Kambarami Cup success, their focus now shifts to the Kwibuka T20 Tournament, where they aim to build on this momentum and achieve even greater heights in international cricket.
