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#NPL2024 – Takashinga 2 clinch thriller, Scorpions finally win

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Takashinga 2 179/8 in 45 overs (Knowledgie Kaia 34, Wishneezy Chapfombo 33*, Ryan Simbi 31*)

Gladiators 176 in 39.2 overs (Malcolm Chikuhwa 47, Tatenda Matimbe 38*; Cuthbert Musoko 4-42, Ryan Simbi 3-28)

Takashinga 2 won by 3 runs

Takashinga 2 grabbed a late and unlikely win, beating Gladiators by three runs in a 2024 National Premier League (NPL) match at Old Hararians on Wednesday.

At 38.4 overs, they needed just five runs with two wickets in hand.
Cuthbert Musoko trapped Phase Mukabeta leg before off the next delivery.

The next ball went down for a wide, and Munashe Zata ran a single.
Gladiators now needed four runs with six overs still in the hat.

Enter Zimbabwe 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup star Ryan Simbi. His first ball passed to the keeper without incident.

His second ball crashed in Zata’s pads, and the umpire raised his finger to send the Highfielf side into derision.

Tatenda Matimbe was left isolated on 38.

In the same innings, player-coach Malcolm Chikuhwa top-scored with 47, while captain Ashley Mufandauya lent 28 to the cause.

That they ended up chasing 173 came down to a rearguard action by Wishnenzy Champfombo and Simbi, who made 33 and 21 each in combining for an unbeaten 54-run ninth-wicket partnership.

Bar Shane Garwe’s 31 and captain Kowledge Kaia’s 34. The rest of the card was made for poor reading.

The win means Takashinga 2 remain top.


Rimuka 172 in 40 overs (Victor Chirwa 67, Bright Matsiwe 26, Tadiwanashe Chitoro 26, Ollard Dzinokuvara 24; Priviledge Chesa 4-44, Roya Kaia 2-14, Christopher Matsike 2-40)

Takashinga 1 178/1 in 23.3 overs (Innocent Kaia 60*, Roy Kaia 58*, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 45; Victor Chirwa 1-39)

Takashinga 1 won by 9 wickets

Takashinga 1 welcomed back some of their big guns as they got back to winning ways in beating Rimuka by nine wickets at Takashinga Cricket Club.

Smarting from a surprise loss to Queens on Monday, they quickly inserted Wellington Masakadza and Roy Kaia, both unused players in the Test loss to Ireland.

Both considerably impacted the result.

Masakadza returned one four 14 in his nine overs, which included three maidens and 44 dot balls.

Roy Kaia took two for 14 and, with the bat, made an unbeaten 58 as part of a romping 122-run partnership for the second wicket with Innocent Kaia.

The latter scored 60 to take the side home in no time.

Rimuka, for their part, had a 67 from Victor Chirwa as the main highlight of their batting card.

He took the only wicket of the Takashinga 1 innings.


Scorpions 189 in 43.4 overs (Nelson Chimbirimbiri 68, Tatenda Murove 26; Brandon James 3-29, Admire Mupembe 2-25)

Bulawayo Athletic Club 130 in 31.5 overs (Brandon James 37, Senyo Nyakutse 28; Mkosilathi Nungu 6-23, Gabriel Jaya 2-9)

Scorpions Cricket Club won by 59 runs

Scorpions picked up their second win of the season after a 59-run victory over Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) in Bulawayo.

The result ended after an eight-match losing streak, the last win taking place on the opening day against fellow strugglers Knights.

It was built on two performances.

Nelson Chimbirimbiri, the wicketkeeper, scored 68 in the Scorpions innings.

Nkosilathi Nungu helped himself to six wickets when BAC batted.

BAC had an all-round performance of sorts from Brandon James, who top-scored with 37 and took three wickets.

But it was not enough to stop the Masvingo side from running down the road and out of town with the points.


Queens 120 in 25.2 overs (Petros Sithole 45; Mashford Shungu 3-15, Anesu Kamuriwo 2-20, Vincent Masekesa 2-20)

Westside 125/5 in 23 overs (Tariro Makauyo, Clive Chitumba 28, Tinashe Chiorah 22; Tanatswa Bechani 2-28)

Westside Cricket Club won by 5 wickets

Tariro Makauyo provided some important middle-order grit as Westside negotiated a tricky fixture, which they won by five wickets over Queens at Masvingo Sports Club.

He came in with the side on 50 for three, chasing 120.

Makauyo hung around as he combined for key partnerships of 26 with Clive Chitumba and 41 with Clive Chitumba.

His unbeaten 43 ultimately took the side home.

The win gets Westside on course for the title after the midweek reversal against Rainbow.


2024 National Premier League latest standings

League Matches (League Matches)

#TeamMWLDTNRNRRPt.
1Takashinga 210820001.75880
2Westside Cricket Club10820001.60980
3Takashinga 19720001.89470
4Gladiators Cricket Club10730001.13170
5SOGO Rangers9630001.17560
6Rimuka Cricket Club10550000.61450
7Queens 1 Sports Club10550000.26350
8Mbizo Cricket Club954000-0.07550
9Rainbow 1 Cricket Club954000-0.82750
10Strikers Cricket Club936000-0.67330
11Amakhosi 1 Cricket Club936000-0.81630
12Bulawayo Athletic Club1028000-0.76220
13Scorpions Cricket Club1028000-1.82220
14Knights Cricket Club808000-4.3140

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