Female Yellow Greens crush Malawi for first win at Kwibuka T20 tournament
Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens bounced back in style at the 2026 Kwibuka T20 Tournament, securing their first victory of the competition with a commanding 52-run triumph over Malawi in Kigali on Wednesday.
At the Gahanga 2 Cricket Oval, the Nigerian side showed grit with the bat before producing a ruthless display in the field to register a convincing win and gain valuable momentum in their campaign.
After being asked to bat first, Nigeria overcame a shaky start to post 98/8 from their allotted 20 overs. Jessica Bieni anchored the innings with a patient and unbeaten 25, providing much-needed stability when wickets fell at crucial moments.
She received support from Sarah Etim, who contributed 14 runs, while Favour Eseigbe and Christabel Chukwuonye added 11 runs apiece to help Nigeria recover and build a competitive total.
Malawi’s bowlers made life difficult for the Nigerian batters, with Lucky Malino leading the charge by claiming four wickets. Despite the pressure, Nigeria’s lower order dug deep to ensure the team posted a score that proved more than enough.
What followed was a dominant all-round bowling and fielding performance from Theophilus Ibodeme’s side.
Nigeria ripped through the Malawi batting line-up, dismissing them for just 46 runs in only 10.3 overs to complete a comprehensive victory.
Player of the Match Shola Adekunle was the standout performer with the ball, returning impressive figures of 3 for 15. Henrietta Mbam also played a key role, taking two wickets while conceding 16 runs.
Captain Favour Eseigbe marked her return to competitive cricket in memorable fashion. Playing her first match in nearly a year, she struck twice in the space of three deliveries and finished with remarkable figures of 2 wickets for no runs, helping wrap up the innings swiftly.
Reflecting on the victory, Eseigbe applauded her teammates for adapting to difficult conditions and refusing to surrender despite falling short of their intended batting target.
"Our plan was to score above 120, but credit to the Malawi bowlers because they bowled really well and challenged our batters," she said.
"However, we had a Plan B. We never give up until the game is over. Even when batting became difficult, we remained patient, used our feet, rotated the strike, and kept the scoreboard moving. No matter the total, we were ready to defend it."
The emphatic win provides a timely boost for the Female Yellow Greens as they continue their quest for success at the tournament.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Brazil at the Gahanga A Oval, hoping to build on their strong performance and continue their upward trajectory in Kigali.
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