Debutants IPRC-Kigali were crowned champions of the 2023 Dafabet RCA Men’s T10 tournament after beating Challengers by 11 runs during the final held at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.

The club has enjoying an incredible season on their debut to the first division of the national cricket league, coming from newcomers to the champions.

IPRC-Kigali came in the final as underdogs before the Challengers who were looking to defend the title they won the season before.

The same team beat IPRC-Kigali in the round-robin tournament before the pair locked up for a rematch in the final.

Challengers won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Led by their coach Jackson Nzayisenga, a young group of IPRC-Kigali players started to bat and went on to score 82 runs in 10 overs.

Challengers had a task to score at least 83 runs to retain the title but they failed to chase the score against an IPRC-Kigali side whose bowling was too tough to defend.

It is a championship that no one in the team expected to win when the season started before they changed their mind and fight for it after they found themselves among the front runners when the league entered the crucial stage.

"We really didn’t think we would win the title in our first season. It’s an incredible achievement that everyone at IPRC-Kigali is proud of,” club captain Jean Michel Iradukunda told Times Sport.

"We are a young team ready to achieve more titles together in the team and we hope the best are yet to come,” added the youngster who was named the tournament best bowler.

Upon winning the title, IPRC-Kigali was given the trophy, medals and a prize money of Rwf500,000 while runners-up Challengers took home prize money of Rwf250,000.

Individual prize winners

Player of the tournament: Martin Akayezu (Zonic Tigers): Rwf100,000

Best Batter: Oscar Manishimwe (IPRC-Kigali): Rwf70,000

Best Bowler: Jean Michel Iradukunda(IPRC-Kigali): Rwf70,000

Top Six Hitter: Hamz Khan (Kigali Cricekt Club): Rwf50,000

Best Fielder: Didier Ndikumana (Challengers): Rwf50,000