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PRETORIA, South Africa – An excellent 46-run partnership between captain Amy Hunter wasn’t enough as Ireland Women’s U19s lost out by one run to Rwanda in a dramatic finish to their final warm-up game ahead of the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup.
Hunter went on to score 41, off 47 balls, including three fours, while wicketkeeper Loughran finished with 27.

Having been set a target of 104 to win, Hunter and Siúin Woods opened up with a 45-run partnership. Hunter then combined with Joanna Loughran for 46 as Ireland looked likely winners. However, the loss of Hunter proved costly as Rwanda’s bowlers never let up – Ireland managing to score just 12 runs from the last 14 balls.

With Ireland requiring 2 runs from the last ball, Loughran was run out by Henriette Ishimwe.

Earlier in the day Ireland elected to bowl first, and Zara Craig broke the opening partnership when she took the wicket of Cynthia Tuyizera in the sixth over. Rwanda went on to post a couple of good partnerships – 24 and 43 – before Ellie McGee removed the dangerous Belise Murekatete in the eighteenth over. Murekatete top-scored with 26 as Rwanda went on to post a competitive total of 103-8 from their 20 overs.

Best of the Irish bowlers were Niamh McNulty and Aimee Maguire who took two wickets apiece.

Ireland will face the West Indies in Group C in their opening game of ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup on Sunday, 15 January at 10am local time (8am Ireland time).

MATCH SUMMARY

Ireland U19 Women v Rwanda U19 Women, warm-up game, Tuks Oval, 11 January 2023

Rwanda 103-8 (20 overs; B Murekatete 26, G Ishimwe 13; A Maguire 2-20)
Ireland 102-4 (20 overs; A Hunter 41, J Loughran 27; H Ishimwe 2-19)

Rwanda won by 1 run.

See full scorecard

Gerard Mulreaney
Rwanda won a dramatic last-ball tussle
No
Connaught