TAKASHINGA Patriots 1 cemented their status as Zimbabwean cricket royalty, retaining the National Premier League (NPL) title with a ruthless 10-wicket demolition of Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC) in the season finale.

The emphatic victory at Kwekwe Sports Club propelled them to the top of the 2024/25 standings, pipping rivals Westside on head-to-head record after both teams finished level on points.

Opting to bat first, BAC crumbled to 73 in just 21.2 overs, their innings unravelling spectacularly after a promising start. Openers Pascal Murungi and Donald Tapfuma (both 25) steered BAC to 40/2, but the introduction of spin maestro Roy Kaia triggered a catastrophic collapse. Kaia’s triple strike in four balls ignited a procession of wickets, reducing BAC to 44/8 in a staggering six-wicket meltdown for just four runs. Kaia finished with a sensational 5/22, ably supported by Blessing Muzarabani (2/10) and Trevor Mutsamba (2/20), as BAC’s middle order folded without resistance.

Chasing a paltry 74, Takashinga’s reply was nothing short of ferocious. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe unleashed a whirlwind 55* off just 25 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes in a display of sheer dominance. Joylord Gumbie (17*) provided calm support as the Patriots galloped to victory in 9.2 overs without losing a wicket, their aggressive intent epitomizing a campaign built on flair and firepower.

The win capped an emphatic final-day performance and also underscored Takashinga’s consistency across the season.

Their ability to rise to the occasion against Westside in head-to-head clashes ultimately proved decisive in the title race. For BAC, the defeat highlighted batting frailties, though Murungi and Tapfuma’s resistance offered fleeting hope.

As celebrations erupted at Kwekwe, skipper Roy Kaia hailed his team’s “relentless hunger,” Kamunhukamwe’s explosive knock served as a fitting exclamation mark to a season of supremacy. With back-to-back titles secured, Takashinga Patriots 1 continues to set the benchmark in Zimbabwean domestic cricket.