White Clouds, Challengers are 2017 cricket champions

Individual AwardsWomen:Player of the series: Egidia Uwimana (White Clouds) - 3wts and 49 runs, average 24)Best bowler: Imaculate Muhawenimana (White Clouds) - 7wkts, average 7.00Best batter: Diane Bimenyimana (Charity CC) – 105 runs, average 52.5Best fielder: Claudine Uwase (Charity CC) (3 dismissals)Men:Player of series: Kamil Meera (KCC) - 4wkts and 260 runs, average 65Best bowler: Pankaj Vekaria (Telugu) -13wkts, average 6.38Best batter: Clinton Rubagumya (Right Guards) -167 runs, average 41Best fielder: Kazim Patel (KCC) -9 dismissals The 2017 Computer Point T20 tournament came to a climax on Sunday with the women and men’s finals. Defending champions, White Clouds won the final in the women’s category to retain the title while Challengers cricket club won the men’s title. Both teams walked away with trophies and medals. In the first game of the day, defending champions White Clouds beat Charity CC by 24 runs to retain the title for a record fifth successive time at Kicukiro cricket ground. White Clouds batted first, putting on 117 runs in the allotted 20 overs for the loss of two wickets. Mary Maine was superb with the bat scoring 58 runs not out from 57 balls. Her inning included 5 fours, and was ably supported by Flora Irakoze, who notched 30 runs off 33 balls. White Clouds’ opener Egidia Uwimana was caught by Rosine Ingabire off the bowling of Delphine Mukarurangwa after posting just 7 runs off 19 balls. In reply, Charity CC, who had won the toss and chose to field first, could only manage 93 runs for a loss of 3 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Diane Bimenyimana top scored for them with 45 runs not out off 57 balls, including 3 fours. Bimenyimana was supported by Alice Ikuzwe (18 runs from 41 balls) before she was bowled out by Egidia Uwimana. Damalie Businge scored 9 runs not out from 12 balls. After retaining the title, White Clouds captain Veronica Iriho told Time Sport that, “I am happy we made history, the reason is that we play as a team. The club is composed of youth so we usually preach teamwork as our strength to succeed.” Meanwhile, Charity Cricket Club captain Claudine Uwase attributed the loss to poor fielding by her teammates. Challengers on top Meanwhile Challengers Cricket Club won a record-extending fourth men’s title after beating Right Guards by 4 wickets in the final. Right Guards batted first and managed 137 runs in the allotted 20 overs for the loss of 8 wickets—team captain and opening batsman Eric Dusingizimana top scored with 58 runs off 57 balls, including seven 4s before he was caught by Zapy Bimenyimana off the bowling of Mahebub Shaikh. However, the national team captain received little support from his teammates who struggled to put runs on board. Challengers opening bowler, Shaikh took three wickets. Lawrence Ssempija (17 runs off 20 balls), Clinton Rubagumya (16 runs off 15 balls), Jonathan Ssebanja (15 runs off 8 balls, including two 6s) and Bryason Bugingo (11 runs off 8 balls) also finished in double figures for Right Guards. The tournament’s most successful team, Challengers chased and reached the target (138 runs) in 19.8 overs for the loss of six wickets, thanks to the contribution of opening batsman Evode Mutuyimana, who scored an impressive 54 runs off 48 balls. He was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The Rwandan international’s inning included 6 fours and 1 six. His teammate Jonny Bowie managed double figures (37 runs off 20 balls), including 5 fours and 1 six. During the closing ceremony, Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) vice president Emmanuel Byiringiro thanked the sponsors and the participating teams for making this year’s tournament a success. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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White Clouds, Challengers are 2017 cricket champions