Online Reporter
RANGERS pulled off a statement win, defeating defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 by six wickets in a high-profile National Premier League (NPL) clash at Old Hararians Sports Club on Saturday.
Takashinga’s innings never fully settled after slipping to 49 for three, but Timycen Maruma’s gritty 61 off 77 balls, alongside Hamilton Masakadza (36), guided them to 247 all out in 42.1 overs.
Daniel Jakiel ripped through the middle order with a fine five for 41.
In response, Rangers shrugged off the early dismissal of explosive opener Tadiwanashe Marumani (32 off 14) to take control through Brian Bennett’s commanding 81 off 85 balls.
The finishing touches came from Johnathan Campbell (48 not out) and Ryan Burl (41 not out), whose unbroken 71-run stand carried Rangers to 248 for four in 36.2 overs, sealing victory with more than eight overs in hand.
TAKASHINGA PATRIOTS 2 WIN
At Kwekwe Sports Club on Sunday, Takashinga Patriots 2 brushed aside Mbizo with a convincing eight-wicket victory, driven by the brilliance of skipper Daichi Nyandoro and opener Tanunurwa Makoni.
Nyandoro’s off-spin proved unplayable as he returned remarkable figures of five for 10 in nine overs, running through Mbizo’s batting line-up.
Only opener Clive Madziyo (26) and a couple of lower-order contributions pushed the total to 79 all out in 31 overs.
In reply, Makoni dominated the chase with a commanding 62 not out off 64 balls, guiding his side to 82 for two in 18.5 overs.
His fluent knock ensured the Patriots wrapped up the win in style, with plenty to spare.
Alexandra Sports Club stormed to a commanding 100-run win over Gladiators, thanks to a sparkling partnership between Aliakbar Hamid and Ahsan Aqil Ali. The pair combined in a brilliant 146-run second wicket stand, with Hamid scoring 82 and Ali making 83, to set up Alex’s imposing total of 268 for five in 45 overs. Faraz Akram added late fireworks with an unbeaten 33 off 25 balls, while Phase Mukabeta, with three wickets for 38 runs, fought hard for Gladiators with the ball.
In response, Gladiators stumbled early, slipping to 38 for three before Benny Zuze counterattacked with a brisk 53 off 51 balls.
But the chase never truly recovered, and they were dismissed for 168 in 33.4 overs.
Victor Nyauchi struck the early blows with three for 26, while Nazim Patel, with three for 15, mopped up the tail to seal Alex’s victory.
CHIMUSORO SHINES IN QUEENS WIN
At Masvingo Sports Club on Sunday, a superb unbeaten 80 from Munashe Chimusoro proved the difference as Queens Sports Club edged Eastern Titans by 23 runs in a tense contest.
Chimusoro held the innings together with his measured contribution off 76 balls, helping Queens post 223 for nine in 45 overs after useful contributions from Dananai Rangayi (28) and Craig Moyo (25).
Titans looked on course during a solid partnership between Tariro Makauyo (54) and Spencer Magodo (63), who added 67 for the fourth wicket to lift their side to 130 for four.
But the run-out of Magodo at 194 turned the game, sparking a collapse that saw Titans dismissed for 200 in 43.4 overs.
Queens bowlers shared the spoils, with Jeffrey Mhuriyengwe, Nkosana Mpofu and Sheunopa Musekwa grabbing two wickets apiece as they chipped in at key moments to clinch the win.
At Kadoma Sports Club on Saturday, Rimuka produced a dominant all-round display to crush Amakhosi 2 by 189 runs.
Batting first, Rimuka piled on 274 for nine in 45 overs, thanks to a fluent 57 from opener Villan Changa and a blistering unbeaten 55 off just 24 balls from Davis Murwendo.
Tashinga Musekiwa chipped in with 42, while Forgive Mwembe was the pick of the Amakhosi bowlers with four for 39.
In reply, Amakhosi were blown away for 85 in 20.1 overs, with only Vitalis Buwu (29) offering resistance.
Brandon Mavuta was the chief destroyer with a devastating five for 16, well supported by Murwendo’s three for 16, as Rimuka sealed a thumping win.
CHISORO IMPRESSES IN DEFEAT
At Triangle Cricket Country Club on Saturday, a lone hand from Tendai Chisoro was not enough to save Chiredzi, as Methane Lions cruised to a seven-wicket win in the Masvingo derby.
Chiredzi slumped to 105 for eight after a top-order collapse, but Chisoro counter-attacked brilliantly with a fighting 75 off 72 balls, lifting his side to 181 all out in 38 overs. Allen Mhuka returned the best figures for Lions with three for 49.
In reply, Lions paced their chase smartly and got home in 38.5 overs. Tadiwa Gosho anchored the innings with 53 off 84 balls, supported by Blessing Mutenda (38) and Jimmy Nyangoni (32), as the hosts sealed victory with 6.1 overs to spare.
AMAKHOSI CLAIM HARD-FOUGHT WIN
In Masvingo on Saturday, Amakhosi 1 held their nerve to claim a hard-fought 25-run win over Westside in, thanks to a match-winning spell from Dumoluhle Dube.
After being rocked early at 31 for three, Amakhosi rebuilt around Tawanda Maposa’s 67, supported by Ernest Masuku (32), to post 220 all out in 41.1 overs.
Frank Mazviita was the standout bowler for Westside with four for 42.
Westside’s chase revolved around a fluent 71 from opener Kian Arnold, but once he fell, the innings crumbled.
From 110 for one, they collapsed to 148 for nine, eventually bowled out for 195 in 44.1 overs.
Dube was outstanding with five for 38, while Nawej Mutumwa claimed three for 27, sealing victory for Amakhosi.
Brief Scores:
Mbizo — 79 all out in 31 overs (Clive Madziyo 26, Selim Salau 16, Hendricks Macheke 12; Daichi Nyandoro 5/10, Shelton Mazvitorera 3/20, Brandon Senzere 1/4)
Takashinga Patriots 2 — 82-2 in 18.5 overs (Tanunurwa Makoni 62*, Tafadzwa Mahachi 6*, Tatenda Banda 4; Hendricks Macheke 1/13, Jabulisa Tshuma 1/24)
Result: Takashinga Patriots 2 won by eight wickets
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Queens Sports Club — 223-9 in 45 overs (Munashe Chimusoro 80*, Dananai Rangayi 28, Craig Moyo 25; Takudzwa Nyamugure 2/9, Prosper Mugeri 2/47, Clive Chitumba 1/25)
Eastern Titans — 200 all out in 43.4 overs (Spencer Magodo 63, Tariro Makauyo 54, Nigel Bonyongwe 31; Jeffrey Mhuriyengwe 2/14, Nkosana Mpofu 2/32, Sheunopa Musekwa 2/49)
Result: Queens Sports Club won by 23 runs
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Rimuka — 274-9 in 45 overs (Villan Changa 57, Davis Murwendo 55*, Tashinga Musekiwa 42; Forgive Mwembe 4/39, Sean Phiri 1/32, Donald Tapfuma 1/33)
Amakhosi 2 — 85 all out in 20.1 overs (Vitalis Buwu 29, Blair Morrow 10, Forgive Mwembe 10; Brandon Mavuta 5/16, Davis Murwendo 3/16, Tashinga Musekiwa 1/7)
Result: Rimuka won by 189 runs
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Chiredzi — 181 all out in 38 overs (Tendai Chisoro 75, Blessed Muzite 22, Calvin Mubvute 20; Allen Mhuka 3/49, Tatenda Utumbe 2/24, Tawanda Damiso 2/27)
Methane Lions — 183-3 in 38.5 overs (Tadiwa Gosho 53, Blessing Mutenda 38, Jimmy Nyangoni 32*; Sabudu Seva 1/20, Tendai Chisoro 1/33)
Result: Methane Lions won by seven wickets
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Takashinga Patriots 1 — 247 all out in 42.1 overs (Timycen Maruma 61, Hamilton Masakadza 36, Roy Kaia 33; Daniel Jakiel 5/41, Brian Bennett 1/12, Wallace Mubayiwa 1/41)
Rangers — 248-4 in 36.2 overs (Brian Bennett 81, Johnathan Campbell 48*, Ryan Burl 41*; Kundai Matigimu 3/47, Roy Kaia 1/63)
Result: Rangers won by six wickets
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Amakhosi 1 — 220 all out in 41.1 overs (Tawanda Maposa 67, Ernest Masuku 32, Adrian Mupembe 19; Frank Mazviita 4/42, Jackson Makalichi 2/28, Vincent Masekesa 2/40)
Westside — 195 all out in 44.1 overs (Kian Arnold 71, Tinashe Chiorah 22, Jackson Makalichi 21; Dumoluhle Dube 5/38, Nawej Mutumwa 3/27, Nkosibongwe Gogodo 1/31)
Result: Amakhosi 1 won by 25 runs. — Sports Reporter/ZimCricket
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