dyton mupawaenda
Faraz Akram and Mgcini Dube started off this National Premier League (NPL) match with a quick wicket each for Takashinga Patriots 2, as they overwhelmed Amakhosi by eight wickets at Kwekwe Sports Club on Thursday.
They reduced Amakhosi to a score of two runs for two wickets in the first seven balls of their innings and the Bulawayo-based club never recovered.
Thamsanqa Nunu with 13 was the only batter to reach double figures as Amakhosi collapsed to 71 all out in 21.1 overs.
The biggest partnership they could manage was 21 for the third wicket between Nunu and Tawanda Mahora (9).
Takashinga used six bowlers and all took at least one wicket, with the best figures being recorded by the captain, Daichi Nyandoro, whose two tail-end wickets cost him four runs in three overs.
With 72 required to win, Tanu Makoni was soon caught at the wicket off Arnold Shara for five, but after that Takashinga had it easy.
Nyandoro was later out for 18, but Rodney Mupfudza hit 32 not out off 27 balls and Tinashe Chimbambo 19 off 12 balls to take them home in only 12.4 overs.
At Masvingo Sports Club, a fine innings of 72 not out by Dion Myers took Rangers to a straightforward seven-wicket victory over Scorpions.
The latter batted first and owed much to Blessed Muzite, who opened the batting and scored 62 off 107 balls, being fourth out at 143.
His support came from Gabriel Jaya, who scored 36, the pair putting on 77 for the fourth wicket.
After their dismissal, the tail collapsed to 176 all out, the last six batters contributing only 18 runs among them.
Brad Evans, playing again, took the last two wickets to fall, but the best bowling figures went to Jonathan Campbell, with three for 36.
Rangers made such easy work of the job that they romped to victory in only 22.1 overs.
Jayden Schadendorf blazed the trail with 47 off 31 balls, while Myers completed the job, his unbeaten 72 coming off 57 balls with a six and nine fours.
Campbell with 32 not out off 25 balls stayed with Myers until the job was done.
Joylord Gumbie, Alvin Chiradza and Wellington Masakadza all scored excellent fifties as the reigning NPL champions, Takashinga Patriots 1, raced to a virtually unbeatable total of 365 for seven wickets in their 45 overs, and an eventual 217-run victory over Mbizo.
Gumbie, partnered by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, laid into the bowling so powerfully when they opened the innings that they brought up the fifty in the fifth over, before Kamunhukamwe was out for 32 off 15 balls.
Innocent Kaia was also in dashing form with 34 off 21 balls, making Gumbie look slow as he made 62 off 65 balls, the score when he was out being 166 for five in the 23rd over.
Chiradza made 66 not out off 75 balls, but the most devastating innings came from Masakadza, who tore the bowling to shreds by scoring 87 off 49 balls, with six sixes and four fours.
Hamad Ul Hassan Aqil was the most successful of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 64 off his nine overs.
Mbizo could do little in response to this, and the only batter to score more than 20 was Ahsan Aqil Ali, who made 47 off 66 balls.
Mike Chinouya enlivened the final stages with 19 not out off 10 balls, with a six and three fours, but the innings closed for 148.
Tapiwa Mufudza carved his way through the meat of the batting with five wickets for 29 runs in his nine overs, while Blessing Muzarabani topped and tailed the innings with three for 12.
Brief Scores
Amakhosi – 71 all out in 21.1 overs (Thamsanqa Nunu 13, Tawanda Mhora 9, Mzingaye Mdlongwa 7; Daichi Nyandoro 2/4, Mgcini Dube 2/10, Faraz Akram 2/17)
Takashinga Patriots 2 – 72-2 in 12.4 overs (Rodney Mupfudza 32*, Daichi Nyandoro 18, Tinashe Chimbambo 10*; Raymond Kasimo 1/6, Arnold Shara 1/27)
Result: Takashinga Patriots 2 won by eight wickets
***
Scorpions – 176 all out in 42.2 overs (Blessed Muzite 62, Gabriel Jaya 36, Takunda Madembo 22; Johnathan Campbell 3/36, Brad Evans 2/28, Dion Myers 1/22)
Rangers – 177-3 in 22.1 overs (Dion Myers 72*, Jayden Schadendorf 47, Johnathan Campbell 32*; Praise Makaza 1/32, Tafara Chingwara 1/35, Gabriel Jaya 1/39)
Result: Rangers won by seven wickets
***
Takashinga Patriots 1 – 365-7 in 45 overs (Wellington Masakadza 87, Alvin Chiradza 66*, Joylord Gumbie 62; Ahsan Aqil Ali 3/64, Isaac Okpe 2/55, Mike Chinouya 2/82)
Mbizo – 148 all out in 34.2 overs (Ahsan Aqil Ali 47, Mike Chinouya 19*, Clifford Takaedza 17; Tapiwa Mufudza 5/29, Blessing Muzarabani 3/12, Roy Kaia 1/15)
Result: Takashinga Patriots 1 won by 217 runs
Online Reporter