More teams for National Premier League

Brandon Moyo

ZIMBABWE Cricket (ZC) has increased the number of teams that will participate in the 2023/24 National Premier League (NPL) from 10 to 14.

Nine teams will qualify directly through provincial leagues while the other five will go through qualification playoffs.

From the nine direct entries, Harare Province will have four while Bulawayo will have two teams with Masvingo, Manicaland and Midlands each having a club.

Bulawayo’s two direct representatives are Amakhosi Cricket Club and Queens Sports Club.

Amakhosi finished on top of the four-team 2022/23 Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association (BMCA) First League standings with 42 points, 11 points clear of second placed Queens. Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) ended the season third with 30 points, while Emakhandeni anchored the table.

On the last day of the season played on Sunday, Amakhosi recorded a thumping nine wickets win over BAC at Emakhandeni Cricket Club. After opting to bat first, BAC was restricted to 51 all out in 14,2 overs before their opponents went on to finish on 53/1 in 4,4 overs.

Fast bowler Ernest Masuku finished with the best bowling figures for Amakhosi, taking two wickets for eight runs in 2,4 overs while Arnold Shara, Ashley Phiri, Shaun Dzakatira and Cedric Dube all took one scalp each. BAC’s captain, Bright Phiri top scored with 20 runs off 31 deliveries while Kudzai Banda fell for 10 runs from 31 deliveries as well.

In their chase, Amakhosi lost the wicket of Samuel Nyathi for a duck after facing two balls. Danmore Phiri and Adrian Mupembe saw the team through with 22 and 19 runs respectively. Prince Kaunda took the only wicket that fell.

In Amakhosi’s defence, Kasipini put up a brilliant performance with the ball, taking four wickets for 27 runs in 4,5 overs. Petros Sithole finished with figures of 3/18 in eight overs to help Queens to a comfortable win. Kasimo top scored for Nketa with 60 runs while Tawanda Charumbira fell for 34 runs off 33 deliveries as Nketa finished at the bottom of the standings.

In the other match played at Emakhandeni as well, Queens registered a 45 runs win over Nketa Cricket Club to secure second place. Queens were bowled out for 198 runs in 46,1 overs and went on to limit their opponents to 153 all out in 28,5 overs.

Chris Mpofu scored a half century for Queens as he finished as the leading run scorer as he was caught on 66 runs from 103 balls. Isheunopa Musekwa scored 27 runs off 31 deliveries while Vusi Kasipani scored 19 runs after facing 34 balls. Raymond Kasimo starred with the ball for Nketa, finishing with figures of 3/10 in 3,1 overs. Third placed BAC will have a chance of making another chance of making it to the NPL once again through qualification playoffs. BAC will face the winner of the Matabeleland North Province league.

Other qualification playoff matches will see Mashonaland Central winner facing number five from Harare. Mashonaland East winner will face the runner up from Manicaland while Matabeleland South winner will be up against the runner up from Masvingo. The last one will be between Mashonaland West winner and Midlands runner up.

The playoffs are expected to be played this weekend at venues yet to be advised by ZC. – @brandon_malvin