Rwanda Women vs Italy Women, 1st Match, ICC Womens T20I Challenge Trophy 2026

t20Italy Women won by 16 runs (2nd innings reduced to 7 ovs due to rain, DLS target 67)

Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, Kigali City

18 Apr 2026, 12:30 pm IST

rwanda women won the toss, chose to bowl

Winner: Italy Women

Top Performers

Italy Women

Top Batsmen

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Alexia Kontopirakis	45	37	4	1	121.62
Ilenia Sims	14	18	0	0	77.78

Top Bowlers

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Ruth Uwimana	2	12	1	6
Rosette Shimwamana	1	4	0	4

Rwanda Women

Top Batsmen

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Merveille Uwase	12	10	1	0	120
Clarisse Uwase	11	12	1	0	91.67

Top Bowlers

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Economy
Ilenia Sims	2	11	2	5.5
Thilini Fernando	2	16	2	8

Italy Women Inning Score: 72 /1

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Kumudu Peddrick	c Gisele Ishimwe b Ruth Uwimana	6	11	1	0	54.55
Alexia Kontopirakis	not out	45	37	4	1	121.62
Ilenia Sims	not out	14	18	0	0	77.78

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	Wide Balls	Economy
Rosine Irera	2	9	0	2	4.5
Ruth Uwimana	2	12	1	1	6
Alice Ikuzwe	2	19	0	0	9.5
Marie Bimenyimana	2	14	0	1	7
Henriette Ishimwe	2	12	0	1	6
Rosette Shimwamana	1	4	0	0	4

Rwanda Women Inning Score: 50 /4

Batter	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	SR
Gisele Ishimwe	c Alexia Kontopirakis b Thilini Fernando	0	1	0	0
Fanny Utagushimaninde	c Alexia Kontopirakis b Thilini Fernando	6	3	1	200
Alice Ikuzwe	c Kumudu Peddrick b Ilenia Sims	10	12	1	83.33
Clarisse Uwase	b Ilenia Sims	11	12	1	91.67
Merveille Uwase	not out	12	10	1	120
Henriette Ishimwe	not out	5	6	0	83.33

Bowler	Overs	Runs	Wickets	No Balls	Wide Balls	Economy
Thilini Fernando	2	16	2	0	1	8
Pasindi Kanankege	1	9	0	1	0	9
Ilenia Sims	2	11	2	1	0	5.5
Dilaisha Nanayakkara	1	9	0	0	2	9
Kumudu Peddrick	1	4	0	0	0	4

Match Summary

Rwanda Women vs Italy Women, 1st Match, ICC Women's T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 - April 18, 2026

Match Summary:
Italy Women triumphed over Rwanda Women by 16 runs in a rain-affected match, which saw the second innings reduced to 7 overs with a DLS target of 67. Alexia Kontopirakis shone with the bat for Italy, while Thilini Fernando and Ilenia Sims impressed with the ball.

Detailed Narrative:
The match was held at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali City. Rwanda Women won the toss and opted to bowl first. Italy Women, batting first, posted a total of 72 runs for the loss of just one wicket in their allotted 11 overs. The highlight of their innings was Alexia Kontopirakis, who played a crucial unbeaten knock of 45 runs off 37 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six. She was supported by Ilenia Sims, who added an unbeaten 14 runs to the team's total.

Ruth Uwimana was the only bowler from Rwanda to take a wicket, dismissing Kumudu Peddrick for 6 runs with a catch taken by Gisele Ishimwe.

In response, Rwanda Women's innings was shortened due to rain, and they were set a revised target of 67 runs in 7 overs via the DLS method. Their chase got off to a rocky start with early wickets falling quickly. Gisele Ishimwe and Fanny Utagushimaninde were both dismissed by Thilini Fernando, who ended with figures of 2 wickets for 16 runs in her 2 overs. Ilenia Sims also contributed significantly with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 11 runs in her spell.

Despite some resistance from Clarisse Uwase (11 runs) and Merveille Uwase (12 not out), Rwanda Women could only manage to score 50 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted overs, falling short of the target by 16 runs.

Alexia Kontopirakis was instrumental in Italy's victory not only with her batting but also by taking two catches during Rwanda's innings. Her all-round performance made her a key player in this match.

In summary, it was a well-rounded team performance from Italy Women that ensured their victory in this opening match of the ICC Women's T20I Challenge Trophy.