NPL 2023: Kaia, Bawa hit centuries as Takashinga end Uprising’s unbeaten run

Takashinga Patriots 1 – 313-5 in 45 overs (Innocent Kaia 112, Emmanuel Bawa 103, Chamu Chibhabha 45; Victor Nyauchi 2/77, Brian Bennett 1/47, Takunda Manyama 1/61)

Uprising – 239-7 in 45 overs (Tafadzwa Mahachi 115, Aisha Chibanda 41, Takunda Manyama 29; Richard Ngarava 2/28, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/45, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 1/21)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by 74 runs

Fine centuries from Emmanuel Bawa and Innocent Kaia on their home ground paved the way for Takashinga Patriots to end Uprising’s proud seven-match winning record in the National Premier League (NPL) with a victory by 74 runs on Saturday.

Uprising decided to bowl first and struck immediately when Victor Nyauchi had Tinashe Kamunhukamwe caught off his fourth delivery without scoring.

But this was their last success for 31 overs, as Bawa and Kaia flayed the bowling to the tune of 184 runs in their second-wicket partnership that put Takashinga right on top.

Bawa had most of the bowling and he scored 103 off 110 balls, with three sixes and 10 fours, while Kaia scored 112 off 106, with 11 fours to his credit.

With some powerful hitting by Timycen Maruma (34 off 21) and Chamu Chibhabha (45 off 27), Takashinga were able to finish on 313 for five wickets after 45 overs, setting Uprising a daunting target.

In such a big score, the bowling of Dylan Hondo was remarkable, as he bowled his nine overs without taking a wicket, but with only 24 runs scored off him.

Uprising needed to score quickly right from the start, but soon lost three wickets for 33 runs, two of them to Richard Ngarava.

Their opening batter, Tafadzwa Mahachi, fought a superb fight, scoring the third century of the match, 115 off 129 balls, but Uprising fell steadily behind the required run rate, and in the end had to concede defeat for the first time in this tournament.

Ngarava did best of the Takashinga bowlers with his two wickets for 28 off seven overs.

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Rainbow – 311 all out in 44.5 overs (Tino Chiwara 62, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 43, Robert Chiminya 30; Charlton Tshuma 3/46, Brandon James 2/49, Thamsanqa Nunu 2/54)

Bulawayo Athletic Club – 275-7 in 45 overs (Brandon James 88, Gift Mavhaire 55, Vitalis Buwu 50; Carlton Takawira 3/54, Daniel Jakiel 3/56, Ronak Patel 1/53)

Rainbow won by 36 runs 

A second-wicket stand of 123 between Tino Chiwara, who scored 62, and Muhammad Zaheer Tufail, with 43, set Rainbow up for a 36-run victory over Bulawayo Athletic Club in their NPL match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Rainbow lost Matthew Campbell in the first over, but then came that excellent partnership which took only 16 overs and put them in a strong position.

It was a fine team effort, as after these two left, six of the next seven batters all passed 20, and were finally dismissed for 311 with just one ball left unbowled.

Charlton Tshuma was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 46 in 6.5 overs.

BAC lost one wicket and one batter retired hurt for 11 runs on the board, but they fought back with great spirit.

Vitalis Buwu (50) and Saxon Pettican (35) took the score to 94 before they were parted, and there followed an excellent stand worth 113 for the fourth wicket between Gift Mavhaire with 55 and Brandon James, 88.

As long as they were still there, BAC still had hope of a remarkable victory, but when they were separated with the score at 212 the required run rate was about 12 an over, which was much too great.

They had to settle for a score of 275 for seven wickets and an honourable defeat.

Daniel Jakiel and Calton Takawira shared the bowling honours with three wickets each.

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