Online Reporter
Takashinga Patriots 1 have clinched the National Premier League (NPL) Men’s Super 40 title with two matches to spare after sweeping aside Eastern Titans by nine wickets at Takashinga Cricket Club on Saturday, maintaining their perfect campaign with an 11th victory in as many games.
Batting first, Titans endured a difficult innings, with only opener Takudzwa Nyamugure offering sustained resistance as he battled his way to 25 off 58 balls before the visitors were bowled out for just 55.
Nyamugure was eventually bowled by off-spinner Tapiwa Mufudza, who was at his destructive best, returning superb figures of four for 16 from six overs.
Tafadzwa Tsiga then wasted no time in launching Takashinga’s chase, smashing a six and five fours in a whirlwind 28 off just 12 balls before he was caught – having remarkably scored every run on the board at that stage.
Innocent Kaia, with 16 not out, and Brendan Taylor, unbeaten on five, completed the job in only 6.2 overs without further loss.
The emphatic victory gave Takashinga Patriots 1 an unassailable lead at the top of the standings, sealing the 2026/27 NPL Men’s Super 40 title with two rounds still to play.
Meanwhile, Natsai Mushangwe produced a fine all-round performance as Old Hararians Sports Club defeated Rimuka by 56 runs at Kadoma Sports Club on Saturday.
The Old Hararians innings was an inconsistent affair, with only four batters making more than 10, but Huzefa Syed and Clive Madande steadied things after both openers had fallen with just a single run between them.
Syed struck 46 and Madande 37 before Cephas Zhuwao, with 37, and Mushangwe, unbeaten on 30, provided a valuable late boost to take Old Hararians to 206 all out in the 38th over.
The target was within Rimuka’s reach, but they struggled to build the partnerships needed to sustain the chase as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Mushangwe followed up his contribution with the bat by doing the damage with the ball, dismissing four of Rimuka’s top seven batters to finish with four wickets for 36 runs.
Terrence Makoroma top-scored with 36 before being run out, but Rimuka were unable to put together a substantial partnership as Old Hararians closed out a convincing 56-run victory.
Brief scores:
Eastern Titans – 55 all out in 24 overs (Takudzwa Nyamugure 25, Nigel Bonyongwe 7, Spencer Magodo 6; Tapiwa Mufudza 4/16, Antum Naqvi 2/5, Tanaka Chivanga 2/11)
Takashinga Patriots 1 – 56-1 in 6.2 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 28, Innocent Kaia 16*, Brendan Taylor 5*; Anesu Kamuriwo 1/28)
Result: Takashinga Patriots 1 won by nine wickets
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Old Hararians Sports Club – 206 all out in 37.3 overs (Huzefa Syed 46, Clive Madande 37, Cephas Zhuwao 37; Ollard Dzinokuvara 3/17, Kevin Kasuza 2/44, Nickel Kombora 2/46)
Rimuka – 150 all out in 32.3 overs (Terrence Makoroma 36, Nkosilathi Nungu 21, Tarisai Musakanda 20; Natsai Mushangwe 4/36, Ali Hasnain 2/46, Praise Makara 1/11)
Result: Old Hararians Sports Club won by 56 runs
