The BCA Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament is now in its third edition, hosted by Botswana from April 6-11, 2026.
Seven nations compete in a single round-robin format (21 league matches) before the top two meet in the final on April 11.
This is one of African women’s cricket’s most important associate-level bilateral events, with every match carrying full Women’s T20I (WT20I) status and ICC ranking points.
Tournament history:
- 2024 (1st edition): Rwanda won
- 2025 (2nd edition): Sierra Leone won, beating hosts Botswana in the final
- 2026 (3rd edition): Sierra Leone (defending), Botswana (2-time runner-up), plus Brazil Women, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, and Mozambique
Brazil Women’s inclusion is the tournament’s most exciting development. This is the first time a South American nation has competed in the Kalahari tournament — adding a genuinely cross-continental element to what has traditionally been an all-African competition.
Both venues — BCA Oval 1 and BCA Oval 2 in Gaborone — hosted the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifier in July 2025, making them well-established ICC Associate venues.
Day 1 Results (April 6)
| Match | Teams | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Botswana vs Brazil | BOT 64/9 (16 ov) vs BRA 147/2 | Brazil won by 83 runs |
| M2 | Lesotho vs Malawi | LES 46/10 (15 ov) vs MAL 47/1 (5 ov) | Malawi won by 9 wickets |
| M3 | Botswana vs Lesotho | BOT 190/6 (20 ov) vs LES 29/10 (9.4 ov) | Botswana won by 161 runs |
| M4 | (Afternoon match — result pending) |
Key conclusions from Day 1:
- Brazil Women are the tournament’s biggest story — their 83-run demolition of hosts Botswana (BOT 64/9 — restricted to a meagre total) instantly marked them as serious title contenders
- Malawi Women’s 9-wicket win over Lesotho (chased 47 in just 5 overs!) was emphatic
- Botswana’s 161-run hammering of Lesotho (LES 29 all out in 9.4 ov) showed BOT’s enormous quality gap over Lesotho despite their Day 1 defeat to Brazil
- Lesotho are clearly the tournament’s weakest side — bowled out for 46 AND 29 on Day 1
Brazil Women — Day 1 Analysis
Brazil’s 83-run win over Botswana (147/2 vs 64/9) was extraordinary and deserves detailed examination:
Batting (147/2 in 20 overs): Brazil scored at a run rate of 7.35 — strong for associate women’s cricket. Losing only 2 wickets suggests the partnership-building was excellent. Their openers (likely Laura De Silva and one of the senior batters from Carolina Nascimento’s squad) provided a dominant powerplay foundation.
Bowling (BOT 64/9 in 16 overs): Restricting Botswana — the two-time finalist and home side — to 64 from 16 overs was a clinical bowling display. With pace and variety, Brazil’s bowlers denied Botswana any platform. They took 9 wickets — essentially bowling them out — in 16 overs. This performance established Brazil as the tournament’s most complete team.
Brazil Women’s squad: Carolina Nascimento (c), Laura Cardoso (vc), Mayara Santos (wk), Monnike Rufino, Roberta Moretti, Maria Eduarda MC Ribeiro, Maria Luiza Garcia, Lindsay Vilas Boas, Nicole Monteiro, Laura Agatha, Evelyn Muller, Ana Clara Sabino, Lara Bittencourt, Marianne Artur, Laura De Silva, Camille Vitoria, Giulia Ribeiro, Lara Moises, Maria Ribeiro, Roberta Avery
Brazil’s cricket background: Brazil Women’s program is concentrated in São Paulo, with a mix of players from Japanese-Brazilian families (who have historical cricket connections), Indo-Brazilian communities, and European expats. Carolina Nascimento has emerged as a genuine leader — her captaincy vision in leading this squad across continents for the Kalahari tournament reflects the ambition of Brazilian women’s cricket. Brazil are in this tournament to prepare for ICC World Cup qualification pathways, and their Day 1 performance shows they are ready to compete.
Malawi Women — Day 1 Analysis
Malawi’s 9-wicket win over Lesotho in Match 2 was equally dominant. Restricting Lesotho to 46 all out in 15 overs and then chasing 47 in just 5 overs (47/1) shows:
- Their bowling is capable of quickly dismantling weaker batting lineups
- Their batting is aggressive enough to chase small totals very efficiently
- Their combination of pace and spin is appropriate for the Gaborone surface conditions
However — important context: Lesotho (29 all out in M3!) is the tournament’s weakest team. Malawi’s 9-wicket win is more impressive in isolation than it is as a predictor of performance against Brazil.
The quality gap: Brazil restricted Botswana (a much stronger team than Lesotho) to 64 and then scored 147/2. Malawi restricted Lesotho (the weakest side) to 46. Brazil’s competition-adjusted performance in M1 is significantly superior.
Malawi Women’s squad (confirmed): Full squad including players who chased down Lesotho’s 46 in 5 overs — explosive batting at the top that could test Brazil’s bowling if they build early partnerships
Venue — BCA Oval 1, Gaborone
BCA Oval 1 is the larger and more pace-friendly of the two Gaborone ovals:
- Natural turf outfield with a well-maintained square
- Pace bowlers typically dominate early (overs 1-6)
- The Gaborone pitch tends to be harder and truer than the sub-continental “sticky” surfaces, offering good carry and bounce
- Average first innings score: 85-105 in Women’s T20Is at this standard of associate cricket
- Weather on April 7: 26°C high, 16°C low, 50% chance of rain with northeast wind at 13 mph. Rain is a genuine concern for today’s morning session
Impact of rain: If the match is shortened by rain to 10-15 overs, Brazil’s batting power in the reduced powerplay becomes even more important. Their depth at No.1-5 gives them an advantage in a slog-only format.
Head-to-Head — Brazil Women vs Malawi Women
No previous T20I head-to-head data exists between these two nations at the WT20I level. Brazil Women have primarily played South American and Caribbean regional competitions. Malawi Women primarily play Africa women’s tournaments. This is the first-ever meeting — every result sets a new bilateral record.
Brazil Women vs Malawi Women Prediction
Brazil Women are strong favourites (70%) based on:
- Dominant Day 1 performance (83-run win over Botswana, a quality opponent)
- Squad depth across batting, bowling, and fielding
- Cross-continental experience from competing in South American and Caribbean circuits
- Carolina Nascimento’s experienced captaincy
Malawi’s path to victory requires:
- Their openers to build a partnership of 40+ before Brazil’s bowlers find the right length/pace adjustment
- Their bowlers to target Brazil’s middle order (Nos. 4-7) who have less senior international exposure than the top three
- Exploiting any rain-affected conditions where a Duckworth-Lewis reset could favour the team with fewer wickets down
Fantasy Tips (BRA-W vs MAL-W)
Captain: Carolina Nascimento (BRA) — Brazil’s captain and most experienced player. Bats high in the order and bowls crucial overs. POTM-level performance ceiling. Vice-Captain: Brazil’s opening batter (whoever starred in M1) — Consistent runs in the opening powerplay Differential: Malawi’s top scorer from M2 — If they can replicate the M2 form, their points will surprise
Suggested XI: Heavy Brazil loading (7 BRA, 4 MAL). Brazil’s top 5 batters + their most economical 2 bowlers + Malawi’s 4 most consistent performers from M2.
Broadcast: FanCode app/website (India) | ICC.tv (select regions) | BCA social media channels. All 22 matches carry full WT20I status.
Also read- RR vs MI