Munyonga cracks fastest NPL T20 Blast century, Takashinga 2 go top

Takashinga Patriots 2 – 131/9 in 20 overs (Trevor Gwandu 30, Cuthbert Musoko 29*; Hendricks Macheke 4/13, Fortune Mhlanga 1/14)

Westside – 98 all out in 17.3 overs (Bright Njanji 34, Prosper Mugeri 19; Trevor Gwandu 3/8, Tashinga Musekiwa 2/12)

Takashinga 2 won by 33 runs

Takashinga 2 have gone top and are in one win away from getting to the knockout stage of the National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast after beating Westside by 33 runs at Takashinga Sports Club on Saturday.

Takashinga 2 recovered from 21 for the loss of four wickets after 2.2 overs to post a competitive 131 for the loss of nine wickets.

They lost Baxon Gopito and Aliakbar Hamid in successful balls, and the Antum Naqvi was soon out without scoring, leaving them exposed.

It was late partnerships, 33 for the eighth, 22 for the ninth and and 33 for the 10th that got Takashinga 2 healthy.

Hendrics Macheke was particularly impressive with the ball, especially up front in knocking over the top order.

Westside struggled with the response, a 28-run partnership for the sixth wicket, precious little was found elsewhere. The last four wickets fell for just 19 runs.

With the win, Takashinga 2 go top with two matches to go. Their next match is against Amakhosi.

Uprising – 193/6 in 20 overs (Aisha Chibanda 64, Brian Bennett 54; Owen Muzondo 2-14, Milton Shumba 1-22)

Gladiators – 199/3 in 17.5 overs (Tony Munyonga 102*, Milton Shumba 34*; Victor Nyauchi 2-47, Luke Jongwe 1-35)

Gladiators Cricket Club won by 7 wickets

Tony Munyonga blitzed a 45-ball 102 in leading Gladiators to comfortably chase a big score and beating Uprising by seven wickets at Old Hararians Sports Club.

Eight fours and seven sixes was the nightmare faced by the Uprising bowlers, after their batsmen made 193 for the loss of six wickets.

At 47 for the loss of three, Gladiators looked in a spot of bother. 152 runs was the partnership which ensued. Milton Shumba was largely a spectator, the best seat in the house to watch Munyonga’s violent exploits.

The century is now the fastest in the competition’s history, beating teammate Ashley Mufandauya’s effort off 60 balls on Friday.

And that he got there with the team needing one run to win made it all the more dramatic.

Earlier Aisha Chibanda and Brian Bennett were both in impressive in putting in a sizeable score.

Gladiators also need one match to fully confirm their spot in the knockouts. They take on winless Rainbow on Sunday.

Amakhosi – 137/8 in 20 overs (Nkosana Mpofu 29, Thabo Mboyi 20; Victor Chirwa 3-20, Patrick Nyamapfeni 2-28)

Rainbow – 125/4 in 20 overs (Jonathan Campbell 48*, Nyasha Mayavo 36; Ernest Masuku 2-29, Keith Ndlovu 1-29)

Amakhosi Cricket Club won by 12 runs

Anakhosi beat Rainbow by 12 runs in the battle of the two poorest teams of the league at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Amakhosi’s effort with the bat was modest, adequate without exciting the pulse.

Nkosana Mpofy at the top at the top and Ashley Phiri at number nine were the significant runmakers. Sure Tawanda Mhora 17 and Ainsley Ndlovu 15, but that noone else made double figures wsa the damning indictment.

And the extras column showed 19.

Rainbow showed some initiative but just didn’t score fast enough, with only two players scoring above a strike rate of 100.

The unbeaten 48 by Jonathan Campbell is something to take home but it is five losses on the bounce for Rainbow.

Mutare – 106 all out in 17.4 overs (Kudzai Sauramba 30, Donald Tiripano; Richard Ngarava 3-6, Wellington Masakadza 2-10)

Takashinga 1 107/5 in 16.4 overs (Hamilton Masakadza 33, Joylord Gumbie 31; Donald Tiripano 2-29, Tendai Chatara 2-30)

Takashinga 1 won by 5 wickets

Brothers Hamlton and Wellington Masakadza steadied the innings to help their Takashinga 1 side to a five-wicket win over Mutare at Mutare Sports Club.

After Richard Ngarava had spearheaded the Takashinga 1 attack as they bowled out Mutare cheaply – 106 to be exact – they wobbled a bit and were reduced to 51 for the loss of four wickets.

The Masakadzas then let cool heads rule, putting 50, before Hamilton was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 33.

By then, Takashnga 1 needed five runs and they reached the total with over two overs left.

The win keeps them in the hunt for the knockout stage

NOL T20 Blast 2023 after game 5

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