Takashinga 2 hold nerve to win NPL T20 Blast title

Takashinga Patriots 2 – 207-9 in 20 overs (Antum Naqvi 91, Cephas Zhuwao 36, Faraz Akram 35; Chris Mpofu 4/27, Luke Jongwe 3/52, William Mashinge 1/36)

Rebellion – 204-7 in 20 overs (Craig Ervine 76, Nick Welch 60, Brian Bennett 24; Trevor Gwandu 3/34, Tashinga Musekiwa 2/33, Antum Naqvi 1/44)

Takashinga Patriots 2 received by three runs

Antum Naqvi starred with a superb innings of 91 as Takashinga Patriots 2 had been topped the NPL T20 Blast champions after beating Rebellion by three runs in an exciting ultimate that went all the way down to the final ball of the match at Harare Sports activities Membership on Saturday night time. 

Put in to bat, the Highfield-based facet got a flying begin by Cephas Zhuwao and Kudzai Maunze, and when Luke Jongwe dismissed the latter for 21 within the fifth over the rating was 45.

In his subsequent over, Jongwe had Zhuwao caught for 36 off 22 balls with the rating now 69.

Baxon Gopito went for 5 at 81 for 3, however there adopted the large partnership of the innings, as Faraz Akram joined Naqvi they usually added 97 runs in lower than eight overs earlier than Chris Mpofu had Akram caught for 35 off 19 balls.

At 178 for 5 within the seventeenth over, Takashinga had been anticipating a mighty hitting spree on the finish of the innings, however Mpofu spoilt that for them, as in his subsequent three deliveries he eliminated Tashinga Musekiwa and Tafadzwa Tsiga.

The later batters failed, however Naqvi was caught on the wicket for 91 within the ultimate over, having hit 5 sixes and 7 fours in dealing with 47 balls.

The innings closed at 207 for 9, with Mpofu returning the very good figures of 4 for 27 in his 4 overs, whereas Jongwe had three for 52.

When Rebellion went in they misplaced Takudzwanaishe Kaitano within the fourth over, bowled by Trevor Gwandu for 12 at 26 for one.

There adopted an excellent second-wicket partnership of 131 in lower than 12 overs between the previous grasp Craig Ervine and the younger expertise Nick Welch, and so long as this pair was collectively Rebellion gave the impression to be heading in the right direction for victory.

Then Naqvi stepped in once more to dismiss Ervine lbw for a superb 76, scored off 37 balls with 4 sixes and eight fours, at 157 for 2 within the fifteenth over.

Two overs later Gwandu struck what proved to be the decisive blows, as inside three deliveries he had Ryan Burl caught for eight and Welch caught for 60, scored off 45 balls with a six and 6 fours.

The rating was now 169 for 4 after 16.4 overs, and the burden of the victory chase now lay on the younger shoulders of Brian Bennett.

He hit out bravely as his companions got here and went, and the ultimate over arrived with 15 runs nonetheless wanted and Bennett to face the bowling of Tashinga Musekiwa.

He scored a single, Aisha Chibanda made two, however was caught off the third supply.

William Mashinge got here in and scored a single, earlier than Musekiwa made what may need been a deadly mistake – he bowled a no-ball that Bennett hit for 4, adopted by a two.

The final ball arrived with Bennett on strike needing 4 for victory.

Nevertheless, he did not hit it properly, and Musekiwa was ready, following via, to choose up the ball and run out Bennett because the batters tried to scramble a single.

The match thus ended with Takashinga victorious by three runs in a worthy end to the competitors.