Story by Raynald Ngwarati
TAKASHINGA One moved to the summit of the National Premier League standings after a dominant victory over third-placed Uprising Cricket Academy at Takashinga Cricket Club this Saturday.
Emmanuel Bawa and Innocent Kaia both scored centuries to guide Takashinga One to a convincing 74-run victory over Uprising Cricket Club.
Kaia was the most lethal of the two batsmen with a strike rate of 105.66 for his 112 runs, while Bawa was not far behind – scoring 103 runs off 110 balls as Takashinga One posted a mammoth 313-5 in 45 overs.
In response, Uprising’s opener Tafadzwa Mahachi put on a solid show with the bat but kept on losing partners on the opposite end as Uprising fell short of the set target.
For a moment, Aisha Chibanda partnered with Mahachi to restore hope in Uprising’s chase, but thanks to the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, he was caught by Timycen Maruma for 41 off Tapiwa Mufudza’s bowling as Uprising were punished for their top order collapse.
Mahachi went on to score 115 runs before being bowled out in the last over by Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, but his valiant efforts were in vain as Uprising fell short of the 314-run target set by Takashinga to lose by 74 runs.
Elsewhere, Rainbow One Cricket Club beat Bulawayo Athletic Club by 36 runs at Kwekwe Sports Club, thanks to Tino Chiwara’s half-century.
Chiwara ably assisted by his teammates propelled Rainbow to 311 runs all out in 44.5 overs, setting Rainbow a target of 312 runs to win the match.
Vitalis Buwu, Goft Mavhaire and Brandon James all scored half-centuries in the match, but their efforts failed to find a compliment as they ended on 275 runs for 7 in their 45 overs.
The defeat left Bulawayo Athletic Club reeling in 12th position out of 14 teams.
Meanwhile, five matches are pencilled for Sunday as Gladiators Cricket Club hosts Queens One Sports Club in Kwekwe, Kadoma Cricket Club visits Harare for a battle against Takashinga Two.
Amakhosi One Cricket Club welcomes Mbizo Cricket Club to Bulawayo, Scorpions Cricket Club and Mutare Sports Club go head to head in Mutare, while at Masvingo Sports Club Golden Bulls lock horns with Westside Cricket Club to wrap up the day’s fixtures.
