Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo Zimpapers Sports Hub
QUEENS Sports Club have shaken off their poor start to the 2025 National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast by registering their second consecutive victory of the season with a three-wicket win over Takashinga Patriots 1 at Masvingo Sports Club on Wednesday.
This win follows their comfortable six wickets victory over Takashinga Patriots 2 at the same venue on Sunday. The Bulawayo side now have two wins from six outings, having lost their opening four encounters.
Queens won the toss and elected to field first, restricting Takashinga 1 to 131/5 in 19 overs before going on to chase down the target in 18.4 overs, finishing on 132/7. The match had been reduced to a 19-over game.
Mgcini Dube starred with the ball for Queens, finishing with figures of 2/18 in three overs while veteran Chris Mpofu, Vusi Kasipini, and the skipper Tanatswa Bechani picked up one wicket each.
Ronak Patel top scored for Takashinga 1 with an unbeaten 32 runs off 37 balls while Joylord Gumbie fell for 30 runs from 31 deliveries. Tinashe Kamhunukamwe chipped in with 23 off 11 balls.
Former Zimbabwe Under-19, Munashe Chimusoro top scored for Queens in their chase, scoring 26 runs off 22 balls with Tinaye Shayamano making 24 runs from 23 balls. There were also handy contributions from Dalubuhle Mboyi who made 22 runs and Petros Sithole who scored an unbeaten 19 runs off just eight balls. Jeffery Mhuriyengwe and Nkosana Mpofu chipped in with 16 and 12 runs respectively.
Kundai Matigimu and Tapiwa Mufudza picked up two wickets apiece for Takashinga 1. Tendai Chatara, Alex Falao and Wellington Masakadza took one wicket each.
The defeat was Takashinga 1’s second in six outings.
Tomorrow, Amakhosi Cricket Club 1 are set to face Gladiators Cricket Club at Masvingo Sports Club. – @brandon_malvin
