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A SUPERB opening partnership of 154 in less than 22 overs gave Rainbow a flying start in their National Premier League match against Golden Bulls at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday, and ultimately led to a victory by 62 runs.
The losing team had its own hero in Shane Chigumbura, who not only took a hat-trick for Bulls but also scored a century in a losing cause.
Mathew Campbell scored 90 off the same number of deliveries, while Mohammad Zaheer Tufail was even more aggressive, taking only 58 balls to make 76, with a six and 11 fours.
After such a partnership, the following batters were perhaps a little too eager to emulate them in fast scoring, and the score went from 239 for three to 275 all out, as Chigumbura began the collapse with his hat-trick, all caught in the field.
Bulls had a difficult task, but Chigumbura opened the innings and scored his superb century, 115 off 114 balls, with three sixes and 14 fours.
His best partnership was one of 85 with Tendai Tapera (30), but they were unable to maintain the required run rate, and Daniel Jakiel finished the innings at 213 by taking three wickets in four balls.
In the day’s other match, there was an unfortunate scene at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo when Kadoma forfeited their NPL match against Amakhosi.
Kadoma were put in to bat and were soon in trouble.
Two wickets fell in quick succession at 30, and the next man in, Brandon Mavuta, was caught unprepared.
He was too late to appear at the wicket and after he was given ‘timed out’, he allegedly refused to leave the field, eventually forcing the umpires to call off play and award the match to Amakhosi.
Disciplinary proceedings have since commenced.
Brief scores:
Rainbow – 275 all out in 39 overs (Mathew Campbell 90, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 76, Tino Chiwara 21; Shane Chigumbura 5/46, Dereck Sadoki 3/41, Misheck Gwizi 1/31)
Golden Bulls – 213 all out in 42.1 overs (Shane Chigumbura 115, Tendai Tapera 30, Jimmy Nyangoni 21; Daniel Jakiel 4/4, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 3/24, Tinofara Mafusire 1/21)
Result: Rainbow won by 62 runs
……
Uprising – 276-9 in 45 overs (Ryan Kamwemba 64, Tariro Makauyo 57, Tadiwanashe Marumani 29; Donald Tiripano 4/30, Kudakwashe Ncumani 2/62, Patrick Chinengundu 1/20)
Mutare Sports Club – 230-7 in 45 overs (Spencer Magodo 81*, Nigel Bonyongwe 36, Patrick Chinengundu 28*; Tadiwanashe Marumani 1/5, Courage Gwarada 1/32, George Matanga 1/38)
Result: Uprising won by 46 runs
……
Kadoma – 30-3 in 4.1 overs (Terrence Makoroma 16, Bright Matsiwe 5, Nyasha Mayavo 1; Tinotenda Maposa 2/9, Ernest Masuku 1/20)
Amakhosi –
Result: Match abandoned (Kadoma forfeited) – Zimcricket
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter