Takashinga Patriots 1 – 313-5 in 45 overs (Innocent Kaia 112, Emmanuel Bawa 103, Chamu Chibhabha 45; Victor Nyauchi 2/77, Brian Bennett 1/47, Takunda Manyama 1/61)

Uprising – 239-7 in 45 overs (Tafadzwa Mahachi 115, Aisha Chibanda 41, Takunda Manyama 29; Richard Ngarava 2/28, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/45, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 1/21)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by 74 runs

Fine centuries from Emmanuel Bawa and Innocent Kaia on their home ground paved the way for Takashinga Patriots to end Uprising’s proud seven-match winning record in the National Premier League (NPL) with a victory by 74 runs on Saturday.

Uprising decided to bowl first and struck immediately when Victor Nyauchi had Tinashe Kamunhukamwe caught off his fourth delivery without scoring.

But this was their last success for 31 overs, as Bawa and Kaia flayed the bowling to the tune of 184 runs in their second-wicket partnership that put Takashinga right on top.

Bawa had most of the bowling and he scored 103 off 110 balls, with three sixes and 10 fours, while Kaia scored 112 off 106, with 11 fours to his credit.

With some powerful hitting by Timycen Maruma (34 off 21) and Chamu Chibhabha (45 off 27), Takashinga were able to finish on 313 for five wickets after 45 overs, setting Uprising a daunting target.

In such a big score, the bowling of Dylan Hondo was remarkable, as he bowled his nine overs without taking a wicket, but with only 24 runs scored off him.

Uprising needed to score quickly right from the start, but soon lost three wickets for 33 runs, two of them to Richard Ngarava.

Their opening batter, Tafadzwa Mahachi, fought a superb fight, scoring the third century of the match, 115 off 129 balls, but Uprising fell steadily behind the required run rate, and in the end had to concede defeat for the first time in this tournament.

Ngarava did best of the Takashinga bowlers with his two wickets for 28 off seven overs.

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Rainbow – 311 all out in 44.5 overs (Tino Chiwara 62, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 43, Robert Chiminya 30; Charlton Tshuma 3/46, Brandon James 2/49, Thamsanqa Nunu 2/54)

Bulawayo Athletic Club – 275-7 in 45 overs (Brandon James 88, Gift Mavhaire 55, Vitalis Buwu 50; Carlton Takawira 3/54, Daniel Jakiel 3/56, Ronak Patel 1/53)

Rainbow won by 36 runs 

A second-wicket stand of 123 between Tino Chiwara, who scored 62, and Muhammad Zaheer Tufail, with 43, set Rainbow up for a 36-run victory over Bulawayo Athletic Club in their NPL match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Rainbow lost Matthew Campbell in the first over, but then came that excellent partnership which took only 16 overs and put them in a strong position.

It was a fine team effort, as after these two left, six of the next seven batters all passed 20, and were finally dismissed for 311 with just one ball left unbowled.

Charlton Tshuma was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 46 in 6.5 overs.

BAC lost one wicket and one batter retired hurt for 11 runs on the board, but they fought back with great spirit.

Vitalis Buwu (50) and Saxon Pettican (35) took the score to 94 before they were parted, and there followed an excellent stand worth 113 for the fourth wicket between Gift Mavhaire with 55 and Brandon James, 88.

As long as they were still there, BAC still had hope of a remarkable victory, but when they were separated with the score at 212 the required run rate was about 12 an over, which was much too great.

They had to settle for a score of 275 for seven wickets and an honourable defeat.

Daniel Jakiel and Calton Takawira shared the bowling honours with three wickets each.

 

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE POINTS TABLE

 

Scorpions – 238-9 in 45 overs (Jayden Schadendorf 87, Blessed Muzite 72, Nkosilathi Nungu 14; Courage Gwarada 3/45, Luke Jongwe 2/20, Kirby Madaramete 2/51)

Uprising – 242-5 in 38.5 overs (Tariro Makauyo 74, Brian Bennett 65*, Gilford Muzeya 45; Praise Makaza 2/43, Jayden Schadendorf 1/26, Costa Zhou 1/29)

Uprising won by five wickets

Scorpions made a superb challenge to break Uprising’s winning record in the National Premier League (NPL) at Takashinga Cricket Club on Wednesday, only for Tariro Makauyo to lead a strong reply that resulted in another victory, this one by five wickets.

After deciding to bat, Scorpions were on to a good thing when Jayden Schadendorf and Blessed Muzite put on an excellent second-wicket partnership of 162 in 33 overs.

Schadendorf was the faster scorer, although getting less of the bowling, making 87 off 99 balls, while Muzite took 113 balls for his 72.

Ten overs remained when he was out at 177 for two, but there was nobody in the middle order to take advantage of their excellent position, and wickets fell quickly as the innings declined, the eventual total being 238 for nine wickets, three vital ones in the middle order going to Courage Gwarada.

This gave Uprising a lifeline, and Makauyo gave them the ideal start, getting stuck into the bowlers for a rousing innings of 74 off only 44 balls, with a six and 13 fours.

He was out at 100 for two in only the 14th over, and there followed a fourth-wicket partnership of 74 in 13 overs between Brian Bennett and the captain, Gilford Muzeya.

Muzeya went for 45, but Bennett stayed to make 65 not out off 70 balls and finish the match in a flurry of boundaries, giving Uprising another fine victory with more than six overs to spare.

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Westside – 265-9 in 45 overs (Definate Mawadzi 129, Prosper Mugeri 72*, Tafadzwa Ngulube 14; John Masara 2/31, Tendai Chatara 2/35, Tatenda Mupunga 2/43)

Mutare Sports Club – 268-7 in 43.3 overs (Donald Tiripano 103*, Clive Chitumba 44, Kudzai Sauramba 40; Vincent Masekesa 3/72, Frank Mazviita 2/41, Fortune Mhlanga 1/31)

Mutare Sports Club won by three wickets

The Eastern Highlands derby turned out to be the most exciting match of the day as Definate Mawadzi and Donald Tiripano both scored centuries, with the latter seeing hosts Mutare Sports Club through to a tight three-wicket victory over Westside with nine balls to spare.

Westside decided to bat, and they owed everything to Mawadzi, who opened the innings and lost one partner after another until seven wickets were down for only 102 runs.

Then he finally found a worthy partner in Prosper Mugeri, and the pair added 133 together for the eighth wicket, enabling their team to reach the fine score of 265 for nine wickets.

Mawadzi made 129 off 133 balls, with two sixes and 15 fours, while Mugeri’s 72 not out took 57 balls (two sixes, seven fours).

Tendai Chatara with two wickets for 35 off his nine overs was the best of the bowlers.

Clive Chitumba (44) and Kudzai Sauramba (40) gave Mutare quite a good start.

Tiripano came in at 78 for three and played a fine attacking innings, his sixth-wicket partnership of 93 in 15 overs with John Musara (35) deciding the match in Mutare’s favour.

Tiripano reached 99 and then hit another fine four, his 11th, to bring up his magnificent century and his side’s victory at the same time.

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Kadoma – 152 all out in 36.5 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 42, Terrence Makoroma 34, Bright Matsiwe 21; Mathew Campbell 7/24, Carlton Takawira 1/17, Ronak Patel 1/19)

Rainbow – 154-6 in 23.2 overs (Robert Chiminya 43*, Ronak Patel 33, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 24; Kudakwashe Macheka 4/36, Tashinga Musekiwa 2/42)

Rainbow won by four wickets

Matthew Campbell produced a remarkable bowling performance by taking seven cheap wickets against Kadoma at Old Hararians Sports Club on Wednesday, enabling Rainbow to clinch victory by four wickets.

Kadoma, put in to bat, made a good start, reaching 112 with only two wickets down and Takudzwanashe Kaitano scoring 42.

Then Campbell came on to bowl as the third change, and wickets started to tumble as he took seven of the next eight to fall.

Kadoma were all out for 152, with Campbell taking his seven wickets in only 6.5 overs for just 24 runs.

Rainbow struggled as they chased the target, though, and lost their first six wickets for only 97 on the board, with Kudakwashe Macheka taking four wickets.

They were saved by Robert Chiminya, who attacked the bowling powerfully to hit five sixes in scoring 43 not out, well supported by Robertson Chinyengetere who made 12 not out as their unbroken partnership of 57 clinched the victory.

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Bulawayo Athletic Club – 69 all out in 23.4 overs ( Palvin Ndlovu 21, Saxon Pettican 9, Vitalis Buwu 8; Arnold Shara 3/12, Tawanda Maposa 3/27, Ernest Masuku 2/4)

Amakhosi – 73-2 in 17.1 overs (Farai Gunda 27*, Bright Phiri 20, Simbarashe Haukozi 13*; Thamsanqa Nunu 1/9, Charlton Tshuma 1/16)

Amakhosi won by eight wickets

Arnold Shara’s opening spell at Bulawayo Athletic Club plunged the home side into a crisis from which they never recovered, handing Amakhosi an eight-wicket victory.

BAC lost their first five wickets in seven overs for only 11 runs, and Shara took three of them, his eventual figures being three for 12 in five overs.

Only Palvin Ndlovu with 21 could reach double figures as BAC collapsed to 69 all out.

Amakhosi lost a quick wicket, but then Farai Gunda (27 not out) and Bright Phiri (20) put on 56 together to ensure victory.

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Queens Sports Club – 149-6 in 45 overs (Ian Fuzane 36, Tanatswa Bechani 32*, Chris Mpofu 24; Tapiwa Mufudza 2/15, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 1/20, Roy Kaia 1/27)

Takashinga Patriots 1 – 151-4 in 21.5 overs (Innocent Kaia 80*, Roy Kaia 23*, Chamu Chibhabha 23; Vusi Kasipani 2/26, Chris Mpofu 1/29, Tanatswa Bechani 1/31)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by six wickets

A fine innings of 80 not out by Innocent Kaia saw Takashinga Patriots 1 cruise to an easy six-wicket victory over Queens Sports Club in their NPL match played at Kwekwe Sports Club on Wednesday.

The Queens batting tactics on being put in to bat were hard to understand, as at the top of the order Dalu Mboyi took 46 balls to score 22 and Ian Fuzane 81 balls in making 36, so when the latter was out in the 31st over the score was only 89 for three.

The later batters were unable to make up for this, although Tanatswa Bechani played the most aggressive innings of 32 not out off 37 balls, and the eventual total off 45 overs was only 149 for six wickets.

Tapiwa Mufudza had the remarkable bowling figures of two wickets for only 15 runs off nine overs.

Chris Mpofu trapped Emmanuel Bawa lbw with the first ball of the Takashinga innings, but this brought in Kaia, who immediately showed Queens how to bat.

He went for his strokes right from the start, scoring 80 off only 64 balls with two sixes and nine fours, and victory was achieved off only 21.5 overs.

 

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE POINTS TABLE

 

Rainbow – 275 all out in 39 overs (Mathew Campbell 90, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 76, Tino Chiwara 21; Shane Chigumbura 5/46, Dereck Sadoki 3/41, Misheck Gwizi 1/31)

Golden Bulls – 213 all out in 42.1 overs (Shane Chigumbura 115, Tendai Tapera 30, Jimmy Nyangoni 21; Daniel Jakiel 4/4, Muhammad Zaheer Tufail 3/24, Tinofara Mafusire 1/21)

Rainbow won by 62 runs

A superb opening partnership of 154 in less than 22 overs gave Rainbow a flying start in their National Premier League (NPL) match against Golden Bulls at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday, and ultimately led to a victory by 62 runs.

The losing team had its own hero in Shane Chigumbura, who not only took a hat-trick for Bulls but also scored a century in a losing cause.

Mathew Campbell scored 90 off the same number of deliveries, while Mohammad Zaheer Tufail was even more aggressive, taking only 58 balls to make 76, with a six and 11 fours.

After such a partnership, the following batters were perhaps a little too eager to emulate them in fast scoring, and the score went from 239 for three to 275 all out, as Chigumbura began the collapse with his hat-trick, all caught in the field.

Bulls had a difficult task, but Chigumbura opened the innings and scored his superb century, 115 off 114 balls, with three sixes and 14 fours.

His best partnership was one of 85 with Tendai Tapera (30), but they were unable to maintain the required run rate, and Daniel Jakiel finished the innings at 213 by taking three wickets in four balls.

*****************************************************************

Uprising – 276-9 in 45 overs (Ryan Kamwemba 64, Tariro Makauyo 57, Tadiwanashe Marumani 29; Donald Tiripano 4/30, Kudakwashe Ncumani 2/62, Patrick Chinengundu 1/20)

Mutare Sports Club – 230-7 in 45 overs (Spencer Magodo 81*, Nigel Bonyongwe 36, Patrick Chinengundu 28*; Tadiwanashe Marumani 1/5, Courage Gwarada 1/32, George Matanga 1/38)

Uprising won by 46 runs

A powerful innings of 64 off 46 balls by wicket-keeper Ryan Kamwemba was the main feature of Uprising’s 46-run victory over Mutare Sports Club in their NPL game on the latter’s ground on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Uprising were given a sound start by Tariro Makauyo with 57 off 70 balls, to be followed by Kamwemba’s innings, which contained five sixes and three fours.

In fact, nine batters in the innings reached double figures in a total of 276 for nine after 45 overs.

Donald Tiripano was the best of the bowlers, taking four wickets for 30 runs.

Mutare made a good fight, especially Spencer Magodo, who scored 81 not out off 91 balls, but after the second wicket went down for 70 in the 12th over they were unable to maintain the required run rate.

They steadily fell behind the clock and finished with 230 for seven wickets after their 45 overs.

*****************************************************************

Kadoma – 30-3 in 4.1 overs (Terrence Makoroma 16, Bright Matsiwe 5, Nyasha Mayavo 1; Tinotenda Maposa 2/9, Ernest Masuku 1/20)

Amakhosi – 

Match abandoned (Kadoma forfeited)

There was an unfortunate scene at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday when Kadoma forfeited their NPL match against Amakhosi.

Kadoma were put in to bat and were soon in trouble.

Two wickets fell in quick succession at 30, and the next man in, Brandon Mavuta, was caught unprepared.

He was too late to appear at the wicket and after he was given ‘timed out’, he allegedly refused to leave the field, eventually forcing the umpires to call off play and award the match to Amakhosi.

 

Disciplinary proceedings have since commenced.

Kadoma – 242 all out in 44.2 overs (Nyasha Mayavo 93, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 61, Bright Matsiwe 29; Owen Muzondo 3/41, Cromen Zinyama 2/35, Munashe Zata 2/48)

Gladiators – 246-8 in 44.5 overs (Lennox Chando 80, Ashley Mufandauya 56, Owen Muzondo 21; Victor Chirwa 3/22, Davis Murwendo 2/30, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 1/14)

Gladiators won by two wickets

The National Premier League (NPL) match of the day took place at Old Hararians Sports Club, where a drive for four by Tanatswa Chisvo took Gladiators to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Kadoma with just one ball to spare.

Kadoma’s strong batting brought them a score of 242 when they chose to go in, the highlights being the fine innings of 61 off 72 balls by Takudzwa Kaitano and 93 off 81 balls by Nyasha Mayavo.

After 40 overs Kadoma were 221 for six wickets, but their last four wickets fell quickly, and this proved costly in the end as they were dismissed for 242.

Gladiators made excellent progress with Lennox Chando (80 off 107 balls) and Ashley Mufandauya (56 off 56 balls) adding 107 for the third wicket to take the score to 164 for three in the 32nd over.

Then wickets began to fall, and the match was in the balance when the eighth wicket fell at 225 with only 10 balls remaining.

Then Chisvo rose to the occasion, scoring 13 not out off eight balls, well supported by Cromen Zinyama, 10 not out off five, and Gladiators secured a close and exciting win.

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Queens Sports Club – 118 all out in 36.3 overs (Dalubuhle Mboyi 24, Jonathan Baloyi 14, Chris Mpofu 14; John Masara 4/21, Patrick Chinengundu 2/8, Silent Mujaji 2/26)

Mutare Sports Club – 119-4 in 22.5 overs (Kudzai Sauramba 32, Spencer Magodo 29*, Nigel Bonyongwe 28; Petros Sithole 2/23, Vusi Kasipani 2/30)

Mutare Sports Club won by six wickets

The bowling of Silent Mujaji and John Masara played the major part in Mutare Sports Club’s six-wicket victory over Queens Sports Club in their NPL clash at Masvingo Sports Club on Saturday.

Mutare decided to bowl first, and Mujaji made the vital initial breakthrough by taking two wickets in his second over to make the score 15 for two wickets.

Masara then got to work, bowling out four middle-order batters cheaply, with opener Dalu Mboyi the only man to pass 15 – he made 24, with the total 118.

Mujaji’s two vital wickets cost 26 runs, while Masara had four for 21.

Mutare lost Clive Chitumba for two, but Nigel Bonyongwe (28) and Kudzai Sauramba (32) put the innings on the right track, while Spencer Magodo (29 not out) took them home.

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Scorpions – 227-9 in 45 overs (Blessed Muzite 62, Costa Zhou 49, Tariro Kapungu 33*; Shepherd Dube 3/56, Manson Chikowero 2/35, Lesley Chemudondo 1/21)

Mbizo – 143 all out in 38.1 overs (Manson Chikowero 26*, Tafara Chingwara 18, Mkululi Nyathi 17; Tawananyasha Kasondo 2/8, Costa Zhou 2/19, Nkosilathi Nungu 2/28)

Scorpions won by 84 runs 

Blessed Muzite and Costa Zhou played fine innings for Scorpions as they secured a straightforward victory by 84 runs over Mbizo in their NPL game at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Scorpions chose to bat, and Muzite, opening the innings, made 62 off 91 balls to give his side a sound start.

When he was out Zhou hit a more aggressive 49 off 36 balls, and though few of the later batters came off, the total was a useful 227 for nine wickets.

Mbizo were never in the hunt, as wickets fell steadily and the eighth man was out at 94.

Manson Chikowero fought back to score 26 not out, and with Tafara Chingwara making 18 these two managed to take the final score to 143 to lessen the margin of defeat.

 

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE POINTS TABLE

 

Takashinga Patriots 1 – 443-4 in 45 overs (Timycen Maruma 160, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 69, Chamu Chibhabha 62; Munashe Maworere 1/47, Dereck Sadoki 1/58, Elvin Nxumalo 1/89)

Golden Bulls – 103 all out in 31.3 overs (Jimmy Nyangoni 31, Kelvin Mabvute 27, Elvin Nxumalo 6*; Wellington Masakadza 4/13, Tapiwa Mufudza 4/15, Priviledge Chesa 2/30)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by 340 runs

Timycen Maruma, with a brilliant innings of 160, led a massacre as Takashinga Patriots 1 thrashed Golden Bulls by 340 runs in a National Premier League (NPL) match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Wednesday.

Maruma opened the batting with Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, who scored 69 off 45 balls as they put on 124 for the first wicket in 14 overs.

There were big innings from Chamu Chibhabha (62 off 33 balls) and Priviledge Chesa (52 not out off 31), while Golden Bulls gave 57 runs in extras, 38 of them wides.

Maruma himself faced only 119 balls for his 160 and hit seven sixes and 16 fours in a team total of 443 for four wickets in 45 overs.

Bulls, facing a hopeless task, were all out for 103, with the spinners Wellington Masakadza and Tapiwa Mufudza taking four wickets each, for 13 and 15 runs respectively.

Only Kelvin Mabvute with 27 and Jimmy Nyangoni with 31 reached double figures with the bat.

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Uprising – 359-6 in 45 overs (Tariro Makauyo 79, Ryan Kamwemba 63*, Ryan Burl 55; Abel Chirimuuta 2/65, Jabulisa Tshuma 1/35, Tafara Chingwara 1/61)

Mbizo – 109 all out in 27.5 overs (Mkululi Nyathi 32, Jameson Chikowero 23, Lesley Chomudondo 15; Ryan Burl 4/3, George Matanga 3/46, Courage Gwarada 1/14)

Uprising won by 250 runs

Tariro Makauyo (79), Tanatswa Marumani (52), Ryan Kamwemba (63 not out) and Ryan Burl (55) all scored fifties as Uprising cruised to a 250-run victory over Mbizo in their NPL match at Old Hararians Sports Club on Wednesday.

Makauyo and Marumani began with an opening partnership of 105 in 14 overs, and there was another century partnership (109) for the fourth wicket between Kamwemba and Burl.

Burl’s innings was the most aggressive, as his 55 came off only 28 balls and he hit three sixes and five fours, the team innings eventually ending at 359 for six wickets.

Mkululi Nyathi began the Mbizo innings well with 32 off 22 balls, but the other top batters failed and they were eventually dismissed for 109 within 28 overs.

Burl returned the remarkable bowling figures of four wickets for three runs in 5.5 overs, while George Matanga took three wickets for 46.

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Queens – 158 all out in 36.5 overs (Tanatswa Bechani 66, Tanaka Zvaita 20, Tinaye Shayamano 19; Prosper Mugeri 3/35, Paul Mhlanga 2/27, Vincent Masekesa 2/28)

Westside – 159-6 in 39.5 overs (Definate Mawadzi 48, Kevin Kasuza 38, Tinashe Chiorah 22; Petros Sithole 2/21, Tanatswa Bechani 2/32, Chris Mpofu 1/31)

Westside won by four wickets

A good innings of 48 by Definate Mawadzi was a key factor in a closer NPL match played at Masvingo Sports Club where Westside beat Queens by four wickets on Wednesday.

Queens never recovered from a bad start, when they slumped to 58 for five wickets in the 18th over.

Tanatswa Bechani played a captain’s innings of 66 to rally his team, but they could total only 158, with Prosper Mugeri taking three wickets for 35 to be the most successful bowler.

Westside did not begin too confidently, but Mawadzi held the early batting together until he found a reliable partner in Kevin Kasuza, who scored 38.

Both were out, and six wickets were down for 140, but Tafadzwa Ngulube and Vincent Masekesa then took Westside home without further loss.

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Kadoma – 249 all out in 40.1 overs (Takudzwanashe Kaitano 70, Nyasha Mayavo 41, Terrence Makoroma 37; Costa Zhou 3/36, Nezbert Maringire 2/25, Blessed Muzite 2/47)

Scorpions – 193 all out in 40 overs (Blessed Muzite 39, Gabriel Jaya 37, Costa Zhou 30; Kudakwashe Macheka 4/57, Davis Murwendo 3/20, Nickel Kombora 2/31)

Kadoma won by 56 runs

Takudzwanashe Kaitano played a dashing innings of 70 for Kadoma that gave them the edge over Scorpions in their NPL match which they eventually won by 56 runs at Takashinga Sports Club on Wednesday.

Thanks mainly to Kaitano and Terrence Makoroma, who opened the innings with 37, Kadoma reached 109 before the third wicket fell, and there was a good fifth-wicket partnership of 76 between Nyasha Mayavo (41) and Davis Murwendo (36).

The final total was 249 all out, and Costa Zhou was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 36.

Scorpions began their chase very well, with Blessed Muzite (39) and Gabriel Jaya (37) making 66 for the first wicket, and with Zhou hitting 30 the score reached 106 before he was second out.

Unfortunately for Scorpions their middle-order wickets tumbled steadily and they fell behind the rate.

Kudakwashe Macheka (four for 57) and Murwendo (three for 20) were the bowlers responsible as Scorpions were bowled out for 193.