A masterful performance from Innocent Kaia, the batsman of the century, coupled with Graeme Cremer’s spin wizardry, ensured that defending champions Takashinga Patriots 1 comfortably beat Mbizo Cricket Club by 88 runs in a National Premier League match played at Kwekwe Sports Club on Sunday.

Kaia’s century was a symphony of elegance, a testament to his skill and finesse. He notched 102 runs off 101 balls, accounting for 12 fours and a six, his third NPL hundred this season. The leading run-scorer has now thundered 80 boundaries in the season, the highest by any batsman, as Takashinga Patriots 1 scored 242/9 in their 45 overs after being asked to bat first.

“Kaia’s batting is a work of art,” one would say, as he has now amassed 695 runs in nine innings, averaging 115.83. Fellow opening batsman Joylord Gumbie scored a half-century, 52 (74), before becoming the first casualty in the 23rd over with the Patriots on 125/1.

Kaia then exited the crease after starring in over 200 runs for his side, leaving Patriots 1 on 203/3 after 34.5 overs, while Antum Naqvi added 31 runs. Isaac Okpe claimed a five-wicket haul for Mbizo, conceding 45 runs from nine overs, while Jabulisa Tshuma picked two wickets.

Mbizo’s chase was destined to falter as they met a barricaded Cremer leg-spin wall. The former Zimbabwe captain picked four wickets for 21 runs in his nine overs, his spin wizardry leaving Mbizo’s batsmen bewildered.

“Cremer’s spin is a magic spell,” many would argued, in the same vein Samuel Muyambo also made the ball obey him, taking two wickets for three runs in 1.1 overs. Naqvi and skipper Roy Kaia also took two wickets each.

In the end, Mbizo were rattled out for 154 runs in 40.1 overs. Selim Salau, 33 (53), Hendricks Macheke, 22*, and Elijah Olaleye provided some form of resistance with the bat.