Alice Ikuzwe says understanding her responsibility and reading what Rwanda Women need at every stage of a game helped her deliver one of her best performances as the East Africans defeated Namibia Women by four wickets to book their place in the Victoria Series 2026 final.
Ikuzwe was at the heart of Rwanda’s bowling effort, taking three wickets for just 10 runs in four overs as Namibia were bowled out for 58 at the Lakeside Oval in Entebbe on Thursday afternoon.
Rather than crediting her teammates’ words of encouragement for the performance, the bowler insisted that knowing her job and executing it when called upon made the difference.
“It’s not all about what they told me. I know what I’m supposed to do,” Ikuzwe said after receiving the Player of the Match award.
Asked what she did differently to produce such a performance, she explained that she always pays attention to the scoreboard and understands what the team needs from her.
“I do my best because I know when I’m going to bowl, I see on the board and know what the team needs,” she added.
It was a performance that helped Rwanda turn their campaign around after losing to Namibia in the first round-robin phase. Having started the second round with a perfect record, including a victory over the United States of America and Uganda, Rwanda finished strongly against Namibia to secure their place in Saturday’s final against hosts Uganda’s Victoria Pearls.
Thursday’s encounter was Game 12 of the competition and the final fixture of the second round-robin phase. Namibia won the toss and elected to bat, but found life difficult against a disciplined Rwandan attack.
Kayleen Ann Green top-scored with 12 runs off 23 balls, while captain Suné Wittmann managed 10 from 22 deliveries. Sylvia Shihepo added eight, with Wilka Mwatile contributing six.
However, Namibia struggled to build meaningful partnerships as wickets continued to fall.
Diane Marie Bimenyimana made the early breakthrough, dismissing Merzerly Gorases for three before removing Mekelaye Mwatile for two. Henriette Therese Ishimwe also picked up a wicket, while Ruth Uwimana and Ikuzwe took three wickets apiece.
Ikuzwe accounted for Naomi Benjamin, Victoria Hamunyela and Eveleen Kejarukua as Namibia slipped further into trouble.
The visitors were eventually dismissed for 58 in 17 overs, with nine extras contributing to their total.
Ruth finished with three wickets for 10 runs in four overs, matching Ikuzwe’s figures, while Bimenyimana claimed two wickets for just four runs in her two overs. Belise Murekatete and Ishimwe picked up a wicket each.
Chasing 59, Rwanda were made to work for their victory as Namibia refused to make things easy.
The Rwandans lost Fanny Utagushimaninde for a duck in the third ball of the innings before Gisele Ishimwe scored eight and Clarisse Umuntoniwase added eight.
Shakila Niyomuhoza contributed six, but Namibia kept applying pressure through Wilka Mwatile, who claimed two wickets for eight runs in four overs.
Merveille Uwase, however, provided the calm Rwanda needed, remaining unbeaten on 13 off 30 balls. Ikuzwe supported her with an unbeaten nine from 14 deliveries to guide their side home.
Bimenyimana scored three before falling to Victoria Hamunyela, while Henriette Therese Ishimwe managed one.
Rwanda eventually reached 59 for six in 15.4 overs to win by four wickets and complete an important recovery against the same opponents who had beaten them earlier in the tournament.
For Namibia captain Wittmann, the defeat was difficult to take, particularly because her side had failed to put enough runs on the board to give their bowlers a realistic chance of defending the total.
Congratulating Rwanda, Wittmann admitted that her batting department had not done enough.
“Congratulations to Rwanda. We spoke about it. You need runs on the board in games, especially in games like this. Batting department didn’t do their job yesterday, likewise today,” she said.
She also felt Namibia could have been more effective with the ball, although their bowlers had given them an opportunity to fight their way back into the contest.
“I think we could have still been better with ball in hand as well. We gave ourselves a chance there, but we didn’t pull it through. But like I said, you definitely need runs on the board and 52 or 58 in games like this isn’t enough,” Wittmann added.
With Namibia now preparing for Saturday morning’s third-place playoff against the United States, the captain says the team must take an honest look at its shortcomings and find ways to improve.
“Like I said, we have to go back. We have to reflect. There’s a lot of things that we need to do better and we need to make sure we are at our best when we come to Saturday morning,” she said.
On the other side, Rwanda captain Bimenyimana was pleased with how her team responded after their first-round disappointment against Namibia.
She described the victory as an important one, not only because it secured their place in the final but also because it showed the team’s ability to bounce back when the pressure was on.
“It is a good win to get in this tournament because if you see the first time winning against Namibia, so it’s a good thing we did to come back strong in the second round. It has made us close the line to the final,” Bimenyimana said.
With a final against Uganda awaiting them on Saturday afternoon, the skipper also had a message for Rwanda’s supporters, many of whom have followed the team’s progress both online and from the stands.
She wants to see even more of them make the journey to Entebbe to give the team the backing it needs in the biggest game of the tournament.
“Allow me to speak to them. So, now where we are getting, we need you live here on the ground. So, please book your tickets now,” she appealed.
The captain’s message was Rwanda’s supporters should get onto the buses and make their way to Entebbe on Saturday afternoon to cheer the team on as they chase the Victoria Series title.
Rwanda will face Uganda’s Victoria Pearls in the final after the hosts also booked their place with a 14-run victory over the United States in Thursday morning’s match.
Before the final, Namibia will meet the United States in Saturday morning’s third-place playoff as both sides look to finish their campaigns on a positive note.