Lawrence Moyo
Head Zimpapers Sports
UPRISING were the biggest winners in Round 3 of the National Premier League T20 Blast cricket tournament on Wednesday as they beat Rainbow by 82 runs while there were wins for Takashinga 2, Westside and Mutare Sports Club.
Round 4 action gets underway today
At Old Hararians Sports Club, opener Nicholas Welch led the Uprising scoring with 68 off 37 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes while Takudzwanaishe Kaitano made 54 off 26 balls, which included five sixes and four fours for a score of 202/6 after 20 overs.
In response, Rainbow could only manage 120 all out in 17.2 overs with Jonathan Campbell the only defiant batsman with 41 off 22 balls while seven others failed to reach double figures.
Brian Bennet led the Uprising attack with five wickets for 17 off his four overs.
In the other afternoon match at Takashinga Sports Club, Takashinga 2 beat Takashinga 1 by 18 runs in a high scoring match.
Takashinga 2 made 195/6 batting first with Antum Navqi scoring 65 off 37 balls and opener Baxon Gopito adding 45 off 29 balls while the bowlers gave away 21 extras in 20 overs.
Richard Ngarava was, by far, the most disciplined of the Takashinga 1 bowlers as he took three wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs, including one maiden.
The extras came back to haunt Takashinga 1 as they could only reach 177/9 off their 20 overs in response.
Batting at number three, Innocent Kaia had a match highest score of 71 off 46 balls, including nine fours, while Wellington Masakadza had the second highest contribution of 43 off 21 balls at number six.
Takashinga 2 gave away just six extras with captain Prince Masvaure clainming three wickets for 30 off his four overs as did Takudzwa Chataira.
In the morning matches, Mutare Sports Club beat Amakhosi by 13 runs defending 146/6 at Masvingo Sports Club.
Today’s matches
Takashinga 2 v Rainbow (Takashinga Sports Club), Amakhosi v Takashinga 1 (Kwekwe Sports Club), Westside v Uprising (Old Hararians), Mutare Sports Club v Gladiators (Takashinga)