Maruma, Kamunhukamwe hit fifties as Takashinga defeat Rainbow

Rainbow – 181 all out in 44.2 overs (Tino Chiwara 30, Daniel Jakiel 29*, Lavert Masunda 27; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/19, Wellington Masakadza 3/19, Blessing Muzarabani 1/26)

Takashinga Patriots 1 – 186-6 in 26.2 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 67, Timycen Maruma 53,  Wellington Masakadza 19*; Mathew Campbell 3/49, Patrick Nyamapfeni 2/42, Ahsan Aqil Ali 1/34)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by four wickets

A brilliant opening partnership of 88 between Timycen Maruma and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, who both scored fifties, set Takashinga Patriots 1 well on the way to what was eventually a four-wicket victory over Rainbow in a National Premier League match at Takashinga Cricket Club on Friday.

Rainbow, put in to bat, made a useful start, with an opening stand of 51, but they lacked a batter to stay in and make a big score.

The first batter, Tino Chiwara, was the top scorer with 30, and three others made 20s.

The spinners Tapiwa Mufudza and Wellington Masakadza tied most of the batters in knots and they finished with the identical bowling figures of three wickets for 19 runs off nine overs in a total of 181.

Then Maruma and Kamunhukamwe slaughtered the Rainbow bowlers by making 88 in only 7.4 overs before Maruma was caught for 53, scored off only 27 balls with five sixes and four fours.

Kamunhukamwe was out at 128, having scored 67 off 37 balls, with four sixes and nine fours.

Rainbow now fought back, taking four more wickets to make the score 165 for six.

But Takashinga were not to be denied, and Wellington Masakadza (19 not out) and Blessing Muzarabani (16 not out with two sixes) took them home to victory, the final score being 186 for six in 26.2 overs.