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From Eddie Chikamhi in Kampala, Uganda
Takashinga concluded their tour of Uganda yesterday when they notched their fourth win over the hosts’ national team after coasting home to a 167-run victory at the Lugogo Cricket Oval. Shingi Masakadza (28) was the star of the show, not with the ball, but with the bat as he slogged a couple of big hits to help the tourists amass a total of 304/9 inside their allotted 50 overs after being sent in to bat.

Uganda could not handle the test as they were bowled out for 137 inside 32 overs.

Masakadza took two wickets for 27 runs in five overs while Sikandar Raza Butt had the best figures of 3/22 from the five overs he bowled. Tino Mutombodzi also took three wickets.

This was a good outing for the touring side, coming just a day after they had posted another huge total with their score of 383/4 on Saturday.

But apart from Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha who chipped in with 71 runs, his second half century in as many days, the rest of the batsmen did not come to the party as was largely expected yesterday.

Nonetheless Masakadza took it upon himself and did most of the damage when he plundered 87 runs from 48 balls. The big Takashinga batsman forced six boundaries and seven sixes while batting at number five. Timycen Maruma was the third highest scorer with 44 runs to his credit. Takashinga coach Emmanuel Dube was happy with the win.

“This has been a very hectic and tiresome tour. We used experience in our first three matches but the guys were thoroughly prepared for the last two. We wanted to be clinical as was shown by the huge differences in all the three departments.

“In the batting side, we said we wanted to come hard on them and try to put a huge total. We did just that when we went 300-plus and we had also given ourselves a target to roll them over below 150. I think these are the positives that we have got to take out of this tour as we build for other matches to come and for the guys’ careers,” said Dube.

The Takashinga team was in Uganda for one week on an all-expenses paid trip following an invitation by the Uganda Cricket Association to help their side prepare for the ICC Division II World Cricket League.

The teams played five matches and Takashinga won four and lost one. They are expected back home today. Dube said they had to take most of the senior players on the tour because Uganda had requested for strong competition to help them prepare for the qualifiers to be held in Namibia next month.

Upcoming players Odacious Mhanje, Kudzai Maunze and Joseph Musosorekwa were also given a run.

“The main purpose was to help them prepare for the qualifiers they are supposed to take part in next month.

“So we are happy to help our African brothers to get the best preparation.

“It’s one of the areas that as Takashinga we feel proud of.

“We are there to help them become one of the powerful nations in Africa. These guys remember they were in Division Seven some two years ago and now they are competing in Division II. Hopefully they will go to Namibia and qualify to Division I,” said Dube.