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Brandon Moyo ,Sports Reporter
IT was yet another tough outing for Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) who were outplayed by Harare giants, Takashinga Patriots 1 in a National Premier League (NPL) match played at Kwekwe Sports Club yesterday.
BAC suffered an 86 runs defeat against Takashinga which was their fifth loss in six outings having managed to collect maximum points on one occasion.
Bowling first, the Bulawayo outfit bowled out their opponents for 264 runs in 43,2 overs before they went on to succumb to 178 runs all out in 39,2 overs.
It was yet another poor performance with the bat for the Bulawayo giants.
Former Zimbabwe Under-19 batter, Emmanuel Bawa top scored for Takashinga with a brilliant century. The youngster fell for a well played 109 runs off 97 balls.
Chamunorwa Chibhabha, a former Chevrons skipper, chipped in with a half century. Chibhabha scored 60 runs from 53 balls to help guide their side to a defendable total. Chibhabha and Bawa were the only two Takashinga batters who managed to put up decent scores on the board.
For BAC bowlers, it was spinner Thamsanqa Nunu who led the charges with the ball.
The reigning BAC cricketer of the year finished with impressive figures of 4/58 in 8,2 overs.
Prince Kaunda and Jeffrey Mhuriyengwe took two wickets each, giving away 39 and 51 runs respectively. The other two wickets that fell were taken by Flemming Nkomo and Isaiah Musarerevhu.
In their chase, BAC managed to put up a decent first wicket partnership of 46 runs before Gift Mavhaire was trapped in front by Tapiwa Mufudza for 16 runs.
Tafara Mupariwa went on to finish as BAC’s top run getter with a gallant 50 runs from 70 deliveries. Opening batter, Vitalis Buwu scored 26 runs while Nkomo fell for 19 runs having faced 25 deliveries.
Another promising spinner and one of the leading wicket takers from last season’s Logan Cup, Priviledge Chesa starred with the ball for Takashinga, taking four wickets for 47 runs in his seven over spell. Marshall Takodza finished with figures of 3/29 in 5,2 overs to help the Harare giants collect maximum points.
BAC was not the only team from Bulawayo in action yesterday. At Queens Sports Club in a match pitting Amakhosi Cricket Club and Kadoma Cricket Club, the latter forfeited the match while batting on 30/3 in 4,1 overs to hand Amakhosi maximum points.
The NPL, which is the country’s premier club cricket competition continues today with more mouth-watering clashes lined up.
At Queens Sports Club, Queens Cricket Club will play host to Scorpions Cricket Club while Westside Cricket Club will be up against Takashinga Patriots 2 at Mutare Sports Club.
BAC will be looking to redeem themselves when they face defending champions, Gladiators at Cricket club at Kwekwe Sports Club and in the last match, Takashinga Patriots 1 will be up against Mbizo Cricket Club at Takashinga Cricket Club to round up Week Six of the matches. —@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter