Amakhosi 2, Wholesale Beef Bulls maintain top spots

AMAKHOSI Cricket Club 2 and Wholesale Beef Bulls Cricket Club maintained their top spots at the Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) First and Second Leagues respectively following the latest round of matches over the weekend.

Amakhosi 2 proved too strong for Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) in the First League with a convincing 112 runs (D/L Method) win while in the lower league, Wholesale Beef Bulls registered a 172 runs win over Nketa Cricket Club 1.

First league matches are one-day 45 over games while second league encounters are T20s.

In their game against BAC on Sunday, Amakhosi 2 won the toss and elected to bat first and managed to finish their innings 334/7 in 41 overs courtesy of an unbeaten Tinotenda Maposa century before going on to bowl out their opponents for 228 runs in 34.1 overs.

The match was reduced to 41 overs.

Maposa top-scored for Amakhosi with a brilliantly batted 152 runs not out off just 96 deliveries. His innings consisted of 12 fours and 10 sixes while his brother, Tawanda Maposa fell just 10 short of his century. Tawanda scored 90 runs off just 49 balls. Presley Nkomo chipped in with 20 runs.

Taboka Manyalo was the pick of the BAC bowlers with figures of 3/82 in nine overs while Talent Dzikiti took two for 72 in six overs. Brandon James and Isaiah Musarirevu took one scalp apiece.

James’ century for BAC went in vain as he failed to get support from the other batters. He top-scored with 115 runs off 82 deliveries with the only other batter that managed to score at least 20 runs being Dumoluhle Dube with 20 runs off 19 balls.

Amakhosi’s Lindokuhle Charambira went on to produce a brilliant spell with the ball as he claimed four wickets for just 21 runs in 3.1 overs to help the log leaders secure a comfortable win. Tawanda Maposa and the skipper, Cedric Dube picked up two wickets each while Shaun Dzakatira and Peter Nyandoro claimed one scalp apiece for the eventual winners.

The victory took Amakhosi 2 to 10 points from two games (one win, one no result) while BAC are on five points in third place behind Queens Sports Club.

In the Second League, table toppers Wholesale Beef Bulls, opted to bat first and scored 216/5 in their 20 overs courtesy of a Tatenda Kanyangara half-century. They then bowled out their opponents for 44 runs in 12.3 overs.

Kanyangara top scored with 82 runs off 35 balls while Bonaparte Mujuru made 33 runs off 22 deliveries with Nyasha Rangayi chipping in with 30 runs from 32 balls. Shane Chigumbura chipped in with 29 runs off 18 balls.

Brian Banda finished with figures of 3/30 in four overs for Nketa while Mondli Ndlovu and Farai Malunga picked up one wicket each.

Malunga went on to top score with the bat with 15 runs off 31 balls and was the only Nketa batter who managed to cross double figures. Glen Ndlovu finished with figures of 3/11 off four overs while Lawrence Makwarima and Mujuru picked up two scalps apiece. Rowan Hommiball picked up one wicket.

Whole Sale Beef Bulls lead the standings with 20 points while Nketa are on seven.

WEEKEND RESULTS AT A GLANCE:

FIRST LEAGUE: Amakhosi Cricket Club 2 won by 112 runs (D/L Method) vs BAC; Queens Sports Club 1 won by eight wickets vs Amakhosi Cricket Club 1.

SECOND LEAGUE: Wholesale Beef Bulls won by 172 vs Nketa Cricket Club 1; Dingani Bookshop Cricket Club won by 12 runs (D/L Method) vs Champions Cricket Club; BAC 3 won by 147 runs vs Riverdale Roosters Cricket Club; ZRP Bulawayo won by eight wickets vs Nust. — @brandon_malvin