NATIONAL Premier League (NPL) defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 kept their hopes of retaining the trophy alive with a seven-wicket win over Amakhosi at Kwekwe Sports Club on Wednesday.
The well-oiled Highfield machine took their points tally to 90, still 10 behind log leaders Westside. However, Patriots 1 plays their game in hand against struggling Knights on Friday; a win in that account will see Patriots 1 level on points with Westside. More importantly for Takashinga 1, they enjoy a superior net run rate of 2.105 against Westside’s 2.042 and a head-to-head advantage.
On Wednesday, Munashe Chipara ripped through Amakhosi’s batting, taking three wickets for 27 runs in seven overs. Spinner Wellington Masakadza picked two wickets for 26 runs from nine overs as Patriots 1 restricted Amakhosi to 182/5 in their 45 overs.
Amakhosi had two half-centurions steering the ship to a respectable target; Raymond Kasimo was unbeaten on 60 from 66 balls while Adrian Mupembe scored 50 from 87 before before becoming Chipara’s third victim, caught by Trevor Mutsamba.
Cognisant of keeping the run rate up, Patriots 1 started the innings on the offensive before losing opener Tinashe Kamunhukamwe for 15 runs with the scoreboard reading 39/1 after 6.1 overs.
Patriots lost their second wicket, Joylord Gumbie going out on 42 from 46 balls in the 14th over with the score on 82.
Innocent Kaia put up an 89-run partnership for the third wicket for his 57-59 with Timycen Maruma exiting the stage after the carnage was done on 171/3 after 24.5 overs. Maruma then completed the routine knocks getting the team over the line unbeaten on 52 off 36 balls together with Hamilton Masakadza, who scored 10 from six balls.
