EXCELLENT off-spin bowling from Tapiwa Mufudza helped Takashinga Patriots 1 to continue their winning ways on their home ground with a six-wicket victory over Westside on Sunday.
Westside, who decided to bat, were going well in their innings as they reached 81 for the loss of only one wicket.
But, Tinashe Chiorah had to retire hurt for an aggressive 54 off 39 balls, and that was the signal for disaster for the Mutare side.
Mufudza, who had taken the first wicket, now took the next three in quick succession, and five wickets were down for 108 with Chiorah unable to return.
Tafadzwa Ngulube (34) and Vincent Masekesa (27) fought back, but in the end Westside could manage only 185 all out in 38 overs, with Mufudza taking an excellent four for 20 in his nine overs.
Takashinga stuttered when they lost their first three batters for 44 runs, of which Tinashe Kamunhukamwe made 32, but then Timycen Maruma and Chamu Chibhabha shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 128 which took them to the verge of victory.
Maruma made 68 off 38 balls (five sixes, five fours) and Chibhabha 67 not out off 54 (four sixes, five fours), and in the end Takashinga won easily.
BRIEF SCORES
UPRISING – 332-7 in 45 overs (Brian Bennett 89, Ryan Kamwemba 53, Ryan Burl 46*; Ahsan Aqil Ali 2/35, Patrick Nyamapfeni 2/89, Robert Chiminya 1/55)
RAINBOW – 154 all out in 28.4 overs (Robert Chiminya 32, Clive Imbayago 27, Tino Chiwara 20; Victor Nyauchi 3/24, Ryan Burl 3/46, George Matanga 2/25)
RESULT: Uprising won by 178 runs
AMAKHOSI – 233 all out in 41 overs (Raymond Kasimo 67, Keith Ndlovu 38, Adrian Mupembe 38; Clive Chitumba 4/40, Donald Tiripano 3/20, John Masara 1/38)
MUTARE SPORTS CLUB – 229 all out in 41 overs (Clive Chitumba 57, Collins Maparura 35, Patrick Chinengundu 26; Nkosibongwe Gogodo 3/49, Syed Bukharri 1/9, Keith Ndlovu 1/36)
RESULT: Amakhosi won by four runs