Takashinga Patriots 2 win NPL T20 Blast

TAKASHINGA Patriots 2 managed to rise to the occasion in club cricket as they won the coveted 2023 National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast at Takashinga Cricket Club yesterday afternoon.

It was yet another last day thriller with two contenders playing against each other in the last match of the tournament. It was Takashinga Patriots 2 and Gladiators Cricket Club who were up for the top honours and the former emerged as 101 runs winners to be crowned champions.

The two teams went into yesterday’s match tied on 10 points and were separated by net run rate. After yesterday’s impressive victory, Takashinga Patriots 2 moved to 12 points as they won six and lost one out of their seven games.

Batting first, Takashinga Patriots 2 posted a mammoth 277/2 in their 20 overs courtesy of a Cephas Zhuwao destruction ton. They went on to restrict their opponents to 176/8 in 20 overs.

The hard-hitting Zhuwao proved why he is regarded as one of the country’s destructive batters as he top scored with a brilliant 132 runs from 48 balls while his opening partner, Baxon Gopito fell for 65 runs off 44 deliveries. The duo notched up a 197 runs partnership for the first wicket which fell in the 14th over.

Wessly Madhevere and Phrase Mukabeta took the only two wickets for Gladiators, conceding 43 and 51 runs respectively as they were made to toil by Zhuwao and Gopito.

Tashinga Musekiwa starred with the ball for the champions, taking three wickets for 18 runs in his four overs while Antum Naqvi claimed two wickets and conceded 32 runs in four overs as well. Trevor Gwandu and Kudakwashe Macheka took one wicket each to help their side secure victory.

Clive Madande’s gallant 96 runs from 47 balls and Milton Shumba’s 22 ball 33 runs were not enough to see Gladiators chase the mammoth target that was before them. The duo were the only ones who put decent scores on the board for Gladiators.

For his destructive innings, Zhuwao was named player of the match.

Meanwhile, Amakhosi Cricket Club managed to finish their campaign on a high note after registering a thumping eight-wicket win over Uprising Cricket Club in a match that was played at Kwekwe Sports Club.

The Bulawayo side managed to put up a brilliant performance with both bat and ball to round up their campaign. Amakhosi restricted their opponents to 126/7 in 20 overs and they went on to chase down the target in 16,5 overs, finishing on 128/2.

Amakhosi skipper, Ernest Masuku put up a brilliant spell with the ball, finishing with brilliant figures of 3/16 in his four over spell. Keith Ndlovu, who has also been taking wickets throughout the league claimed two scalps for 29 runs in his four overs as well.

The on-form Nick Welch once again top scored for Uprising Cricket Club with 35 runs from 32 deliveries while Aisha Chibanda fell for 29 runs after facing 26 balls. Their third leading run scorer on the day was Tafadzwa Mahachi with 26 runs from 25 balls.

In their chase, Amakhosi lost an early wicket of Adrian Mupembe for 10 runs in the seventh over the match but the other batters managed to hold the innings and see the team through.

Ndlovu went on to complete a good all round performance as he top scored for Amakhosi with an unbeaten 40 runs from 42 deliveries while Ainsley Ndlovu also remained undefeated on 36 runs off 21 balls to help their team secure a second victory in seven matches. Thabo Mboyi, who batted up the order fell for 36 runs after facing 19 balls.

The only two wickets that fell were taken by Jeremiah Makanya and Takunda Manyama who conceded 32 and 31 runs respectively in their four over spells as Uprising suffered their third defeat in the league.

In other matches played yesterday, Mutare Sports Club registered a 16 runs victory over Westside Cricket Club. Batting first, Mutare Sports Club scored 199/5 in 20 overs and went on to restrict Westside Cricket Club to 183/7 in 20 overs as well. Takashinga Patriots 1 beat Rainbow Cricket Club by five runs. Batting first, Takashinga Patriots 1 scored 175/7 in 20 overs and went on to bowl out their opponents to 170 runs in 19,5 overs.

The victory took Takashinga Patriots 1 to second spot on the standings, leapfrogging Gladiators with a better net run rate. The two teams finished with 10 points apiece.

In fourth place there is Uprising Cricket Club on eight points followed by Westside Cricket Club and Mutare Sports Club who both have six points. Westside has a better net run rate. Amakhosi are in position seven with four points while Rainbow Cricket Club are at the bottom with zero points.

The end of the NPL T20 Blast marks the completion of two editions of the country’s premier club cricket competition. The first edition of the NPL was the 50-over version which featured 14 teams.

It was the top eight from the 50-over version who took part in the T20 Blast.

The one day edition was won by Takashinga Patriots 1 on the final day as well. — @brandon_malvin