By Tendai Chisiri
Defending champions Queens Sports Club and Takashinga Queens both made winning starts to the 2026/27 National Premier League Women’s Super 40 on Sunday, recording dominant victories in Bulawayo and Harare respectively.
Queens Sports Club 199 beat Amakhosi Women 76 by 123 runs – Milton High School
Queens got their title defence off to a statement win in the Bulawayo derby, beating Amakhosi Women by 123 runs.
Batting first, the champions stumbled early to 37/3 with Amakhosi’s Christina Mutasa taking all three wickets. But a middle-order rebuild steadied the innings. Loreen Tshuma top-scored with 34, while Tasmeen Granger made 33 and Thubelihle Saidi added 32. Nomvelo Sibanda chipped in with 25 as Queens posted 199 all out in 34 overs. Mutasa finished with impressive figures of 4/27 and Felicity Mpofu added 4/51.
Amakhosi’s chase never got going. They were bowled out for 76 in 21.3 overs, with Mutasa’s 32 the only score in double figures. Sibanda turned the game with the ball, claiming 4/20 and dismissing four of the top six batters including Mutasa. Athlet Mpofu 2/7 and Tendai Makusha 2/8 also starred for Queens.
Takashinga Queens 78/2 beat Gladiators Women 77 by 8 wickets – Takashinga Cricket Club
Francisca Chipare’s 4/13 set up a comfortable eight-wicket win for Takashinga Queens over Gladiators Women at home in Highfield.
Gladiators struggled from the start. Michelle Mavunga helped reduce them to 18/3 with two wickets and a run-out, before Chipare ripped through the lower order. Captain Runyararo Pasipanodya top-scored with just 12 as Gladiators were dismissed for 77 in 27.1 overs. Precious Marange took 2/13 for Takashinga.
The chase was clinical. Opener Lorraine Pemhiwa blasted 28 off 20 balls with four boundaries to put Takashinga in control early. She fell with the score on 37, but Alice Marongwe 22_ and Adel Zimunu 14_ saw the hosts home in 16 overs with an unbroken third-wicket stand.
Queens and Takashinga Queens now sit early leaders in the Women’s Super 40 after round 1, with both sides showing depth in batting and firepower with the ball.
The NPL Women’s Super 40 continues next weekend.
For full fixtures, results and points tables, follow News Sport Online.
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