TodayWhite Clouds vs Queens of Victory 9am RCA-Devt team vs Terugu Royal 1:30pm

Kicukiro cricket ground will light up today as this year’s Computer Point T20 tournament comes to a climax with the finals in both the women and men’s categories.

In a bid to promote cricket and make it more competitive, Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) has introduced several competitions. A total of 13 teams—nine for men and five women clubs take part in these competitions every year.

This has made cricket stand out as one of the fastest growing sport in the country with over three tournaments played in a year including; UAE Express Money 50-overs league, Computer Point T20, VR. Naidu T20, Sulfo T20 as well as Peace T20 tournament.

The Computer Point Twenty20 tournament is the third on the annual calendar, and it comes after Peace T20 tournament and VR. Naidu T20. Next on the calendar will be Sulfo T20 before the UAE Express Money 50-overs league concludes the season.

Over the years, White Clouds and Queens of Victory have been the two dominant teams in women cricket—the two archrivals faceoff again in the final of this year’s Computer Point T20 today with the former seeking to win it for fourth year in a row.

White Clouds

Nicked named the ‘Doves’ because of their sparkling white uniform, White Clouds is the oldest women cricket club in the country.

It was founded in 2011 and since then the team has grown into a vanguard of women cricket in the country dominating the sport for over five years.

The club has won almost everything there is to win in Rwandan women cricket. They have won V.R Naidu tournament (2), UAE Express Money 50-overs league (2), Sulfo T20 (1), RCA T20 (2) and Computer Point T20 (3).

Their captain, Veronic Iriho is one of the most experienced woman cricketers in the country and they also have in their ranks the national team captain Mary Maina.

Iriho, whose team goes into today’s final as the overwhelming favourites, says, "Our target is to continue dominating Rwandan cricket because we are united and hard working as a team.”

"We have different responsibilities, some of us are married while others are students and others are busy working but we always endeavor to train and prepare well for games, which is the secret behind our dominance,” she added.

On the way to the final, White Clouds won all their games against Fawe Girls’ school, She-Guards CC, Charity CC as well as today’s opponents, Queens of Victory.

Queens of Victory

Nicknamed the "The Winners” because of their attitude and desire to win every game, Queens of Victory cricket club was established 3 years ago as a composition of mainly school going girls from schools around the City of Kigali.

The club has since become the second-best women cricket team in the country, always challenging the dominant White Clouds for trophies.

Queens of Victory have won one V.R Naidu T20 tournament and one RCA T20 while in the other competitions, they always finish as first runners-up, something that they hope to change when they face their biggest rival in today’s Computer Point T20 final.

Diane Bimenyimana is their star player and she was vital for their performance en-route to the title match.

She has scored a total of 145 runs in four games, leading her team to comfortable wins against Charity CC, Fawe Girls’ school and She-Guards CC.

Their team coach, Eric Ndangamyambi is confident, "The final on Sunday presents us the opportunity once again to end White Clouds’ three-year grip on this particular tournament.”

"We have trained very well and we feel ready to end their dominance” noted Rwanda international medium pace bowler, Ndangamyambi.

Men’s final

Elsewhere, Terugu Royals will be up against debutants RCA-development team in the men’s final at the same venue, starting at 1:30pm with both teams looking to win their first piece of silverware.

Terugu reached the final after beating Impala Titans, Indorwa CC, Kigali Cricket Club and the defending champions Challengers CC.

"Winning the title is our major focus; it’s something we want to achieve so badly because it will be our first trophy,” said team captain, Ramul Morampudt.

His counterpart of RCA-Devt team, John Bosco Tuyizere, also says his team is determined to enter into the history books of Rwandan cricket.

He noted that: "We need to be the first team to win the title on our tournament debut; no team has done it before in Rwandan cricket.”

The RCA-Devt team, which is made up players under the age of 19 years, was formed in May but has gone on beat the more experienced sides including Right Guards, Kigali Warriors, Kerela Hunters and Challengers, and only lost to Kigali cricket club.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw