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Takashinga 2 were crowned winners of the NPL T20 Blast 2023/24 after they beat Uprising by three runs at Harare Sports Club on Saturday evening.
It was a match packed with drama, all fit for a blockbuster.
And so we share the five moments of the match:
1. Antum Naqvi’s growing reputation
The NPL T20 Blast last season was not quite as packed with star power. Uprising called on national team captain Craig Ervine, the big-hitting Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe and the recently-retired Chris Mpofu. Add to that the burgeoning talent of Brian Bennett and a reintegrated Nicholas Welch., It was the Aussie-based Belgian Antum Naqvi who lit up the skylight in front of a very engaged crowd. Five sixes and even fours it was. He has expressed his interest in playing for Zimbabwe and the selectors will be watching closely.
VIDEO BELOW: Antum Naqvi speaks on the possibility of playing for Zimbabwe
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2. Chris Mpofu shows his class with ‘no pressure’
Chris Mpofu may have confirmed that he is done with international cricket, but his skills are still up there, as he possess much of the hunger and passion. He has put that down to having no pressure. His return of four for 27 in his team conceding 207 is top tier. Three of those fell in the 17th over, when he got rid of Faraz Akram (35), Tashinga Musekiwa (0) and Tafadzwa Tsiga off his first ball.
VIDEO BELOW: Chris Mpofu confirms retirement from international cricket
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3. Craig Ervine critical
In beating Takashinga 1, Craig Ervine was on the other end when Brian Bennett was sending the ball all over around the park, with some irresistible batting. And in the final, while he was no slouch for his 76 off 37 (four sixes and eight fours), he had Nicholas Welch on the other hand doing damage. And when Ervine fell, Welch did not have the same type of support which would have helped him along.
4. That six, given as a four
With eight balls to go, Brian Bennett smashed on over fielder at long-off, in front of the Centurion crowd. Umpire Langton Rusere asked for clarification on what to give as it was close to the boundary. The fielder indicated it was a four, which was what was given, to the chagrin of the Uprising fans and their sympathisers.
5. That final over was insane
With an All Blacks semi-final going on in the background, much of the crowd focused on one thing. That final over. Musekiwa had the ball in hand. Was he going to provide another flawless one, much like he did against Gladiators in the Qualifier 1?
VIDEO BELOW: Tashinga Muskekiwa on his last-over heroics to clinch NPL T20 Blast final spot
Uprising needed 15 off the last over. The first two balls yielded only three runs. Then Asiha Chibanda was caught out, with William Mashinge replacing him. At this point, with three balls, left, it looked done. Mashinge ran the first ball he faced and, if there was a chance, Bennettt was the one you needed. Two sixes and the game would be done. Except, Musekiwa sent down a no-ball which ran to the boundary. A free hit, and suddenly, the equation was six off two. Bennett ran two of trhe second-last ball. Still it was possible. Bennett could only send the final ball to short mid-off. He was run-out for 24 in 12 balls.
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