The Ghana national cricket team, the Black Batters, tied with Rwanda on the opening day of their friendly bilateral T20 series held yesterday 18th August 2021 at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
The hosts narrowly won the first match, beating the Obed Harvey-led Ghana team by a wicket, despite the Black Batters getting off to an impressive start with 132/2 after 15 overs. However, a man-of-the-match performance by 18-year-old Rwandan wonderkid, Martin Akayezu, who was making his national team debut with an explosive 51 runs helped his side claim a win with 165/9 against Ghana’s 164/5.
The Black Batters would, however, bounced back from the opening game defeat to take the second game by two wickets, with the two teams ending the day with a victory each.
Both teams will take a rest today 19th August 2021 before returning to action on Friday, 20th August 2021 for the third and fourth match of the 5-match series.
The Rwanda – Ghana T20 bilateral series forms part of Ghana’s preparations towards the 2021 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers scheduled to be hosted by Rwanda from 14th to 23rd October 2021.
“This bilateral series is to prepare both teams towards the ICC and the ACA [African Cricket Association] T20 Qualifiers. I am hearing information that the ICC is coming off in October and fortunately for Ghana the host nation has been changed from South Africa,” revealed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Ghana Cricket Association (GCA), Eugene King.
“Rwanda has been asked to host the ICC Qualifiers, so this bilateral series is going to help the country because they will acquaint themselves with the facilities, the pitch condition and other things before the ICC Qualifiers in October.” He concluded
