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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.

Jayden Schadendorf had the match highest score of 52 off 54 balls while opener Mathew Welch made 44 of 24 balls.

In response, Amakhosi could only manage 133/8 off their 20 overs with a highest contribution of an unbeaten 47 off 34 balls coming from number six, Tanatswa Bechani. Bechani featured in the innings’ best partnership of 25 for the sixth wicket with Brandon James who had the second highest contribution of 18 off 15 balls.

Tendai Chatara led the attack with four wickets for 32 in four overs while man-of-the-match Schadendorf took three wickets for 28 in four overs.

At Mutare Sports Club, Westside held their nerves to secure a seven-run victory over Gladiators in a match pitting teams that had a 100 percent record.

Westside made 180/5 with opener Definate Mawadzi scoring 73 off 47 balls while Tinashe Muchawaya was unbeaten on 25 off 18 balls. Gladiators were wayward with their bowling as they conceded 16 wides in 17 extras.

Number three Milton Shumba scored 68 off 45 balls with Tony Munyonga’s 27 off 24 balls the second highest contribution in Gladiators’ 173/8.

Westside were a bit expensive in their bowling as they gave away 17 extras, as much as their opponents- while Fortune Mhlanga claimed three wickets for 32 for the innings’ best bowling figures.

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)

Latest Standings

P         W       L        T       NR       PTS      NRR

Westside                   3         3        0        0       0         6         1.690

Uprising                    3         2        1        0       0         4         0.886

Gladiators                  3         2        1        0       0         4         0.756

Takashinga                2         3        2        1       0         4         0.634

Mutare                      3         2        1        0       0         4         0.317

Takashinga                1         3        1        2       0         0         -0.067

Amakhosi                  3         0        3        0       0         0         -1.643

Rainbow              3              0              3              0              0              0              -1.700