By Tendai Chisiri
The race for the Domestic National Premier League T20 Blast is heating up, with the top three teams tied on 8 points, separated only by net run rate.
Takashinga 1 leads the pack with 8 points from 6 matches and a net run rate of +1.223. Gladiators are hot on their heels, having played 5 matches to earn the same number of points, but with a net run rate of +1.025. Rimuka rounds out the top three, with 8 points from 6 matches and a net run rate of +0.534.
Top four teams won their matches on Wednesday and Thursday.
Amakhosi 1 – 116-8 in 20 overs (Tawanda Maposa 40, Thamsanqa Nunu 25, Ainsley Ndlovu 18*; Malcom Chikuhwa 4/17, Munashe Zata 1/6, Phase Mukabeta 1/22)
Gladiators – 118-4 in 19 overs (Panashe Taruvinga 46*, Milton Shumba 26, Lennox Chando 17; Ainsley Ndlovu 2/22, Raymond Kasimo 1/9, Tawanda Maposa 1/26)
Gladiators won by six wickets
Fine bowling from Malcom Chikuhwa paved the way for Gladiators’ six-wicket victory over Amakhosi 1 in their NPL T20 Blast match at Masvingo Sports Club on Thursday.
Amakhosi, batting first, were in early trouble as they lost their first four wickets for just 10 runs, with Chikuhwa claiming three of them.
Tawanda Maposa led the recovery with 40 off 37 balls, supported by Thamsanqa Nunu, who made 25.
Despite their efforts, Amakhosi could only manage 116 for eight, with Chikuhwa finishing superbly with four wickets for 17 runs.
Gladiators’ reply began shakily as they slipped to 39 for three, but Milton Shumba and Panashe Taruvinga steadied the innings and took their side within reach of victory.
Shumba was dismissed for a composed 26, with the score on 99, before Taruvinga guided Gladiators home with an unbeaten 46 off 47 balls, sealing the win with an over to spare.
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Rimuka won by 53 runs
Victor Chirwa and Nyasha Mayavo struck fine half-centuries to lead Rimuka to a 53-run victory over Takashinga Patriots 2 at Kadoma Sports Club on Wednesday.
Rimuka were struggling at 37 for three, with both Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Kevin Kasuza dismissed for just a single, when Mayavo joined opener Chirwa at the crease.
The pair counterattacked brilliantly, adding 113 for the fourth wicket in 11 overs before Mayavo fell for a blazing 75 off 42 balls.
Chirwa continued to anchor the innings, scoring 73 off 49, before being dismissed in the final over as Rimuka reached 194 for seven.
In an otherwise tough outing for the bowlers, Arineshto Vhezha impressed with five wickets for 34, striking twice early and taking three more at the death.
Chirwa capped a fine all-round performance by taking four wickets for 20 as Takashinga failed to mount a serious challenge.
They reached 82 for two, with Tafadzwa Mahachi making 40, but apart from Marshall Takodza’s 33, the rest of the batting faltered as they closed on 141 for nine.
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Takashinga Patriots 1 – 131-5 in 19 overs (Ronak Patel 32*, Joylord Gumbie 30, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 23; Mgcini Dube 2/18, Tanatswa Bechani 1/21, Vusi Kasipani 1/21)
Queens Sports Club – 132-7 in 18.4 overs (Munashe Chimusoro 26, Tinaye Shayamano 24, Dalubuhle Mboyi 22; Kundai Matigimu 2/24, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/31, Wellington Masakadza 1/12)
Queens Sports Club won by three wickets
There was a tight finish at Masvingo Sports Club on Wednesday as Queens Sports Club pulled off an upset three-wicket win over the formidable Takashinga Patriots 1.
Takashinga got off to a lively start, thanks to Joylord Gumbie (30) and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (23 off 11 balls), before their innings lost momentum and ended on 132 for seven.
Ronak Patel held the innings together with an unbeaten 32 off 37 balls.
Queens began confidently, reaching 65 for two after nine overs, with Munashe Chimusoro top-scoring with 26 off 22.
Their innings wobbled in the middle overs, but they kept up the scoring rate to stay in touch with the target.
In the end, Petros Sithole played the decisive hand, striking an unbeaten 19 – including two sixes and a four – to take Queens home with eight balls to spare.
No bowler took more than two wickets in the match.
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Rangers – 267-5 in 20 overs (Alistair Frost 111*, Ryan Burl 106, Johnathan Campbell 19; Tinashe Muchawaya 2/40, Muhammad Anas Aqil 1/25, Takunda Manyama 1/35)
Alexandra Sports Club – 176 all out in 18.4 overs (Tony Munyonga 42, Faraz Akram 34, Muhammad Anas Aqil 28; Brandon James 4/23, Brad Evans 2/16, Brian Bennett 1/5)
Rangers won by 91 runs
Ryan Burl and Alistair Frost produced a rare and remarkable feat – both scoring centuries in the same T20 innings – as Rangers crushed Alexandra Sports Club by 91 runs on Wednesday.
Rangers made a poor start, losing their first three wickets for 25 runs in the first four overs, with Tinashe Muchawaya striking twice.
Burl then joined Johnathan Campbell, who was fourth out for 77 in the ninth over.
Frost came in next, and together with Burl the pair unleashed a devastating assault on the bowlers.
They shared a breath-taking 189-run stand for the fifth wicket, with Burl eventually dismissed off the penultimate delivery for a magnificent 106 off 46 balls, laced with nine sixes and six fours.
Frost was left unbeaten on 111 off 38 balls, smashing 11 sixes and eight fours, as Rangers piled up a colossal 267 for five.
Alexandra faced an impossible chase, though Tony Munyonga gave brief hope with a spirited 42 off 17 balls, including five sixes and two fours, while Faraz Akram added 34 off 22.
But their challenge faded, and they were bowled out for 176 in the penultimate over, with Brandon James finishing with four for 23 to complete the rout.
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