CAPTAIN Roy Kaia’s half-century helped Takashinga Patriots 1 to a nervy one-wicket victory over Westside at Mutare Sports Club in their opening fixture of the 2024 National Premier League (NPL).
Chasing a victory target of 186, Kaia joined Timycen Maruma after his brother Innocent Kaia was given out leg before wicket to the bowling of Vincent Masekesa for 24 runs from 28 balls.
Takashinga were in a spot of bother at 57-3 after 11.3 overs.
Maruma did not last long as he became Masekesa’s second victim of the match, caught by Clive Chitumba for 7(16).
It was left to Captain Roy to take matters into his own hands and take the game deep as he lost another partner in Blessing Muzarabani who had been promoted to number six.
Muzarabani tried to take on Masekesa but could only find the waiting hands of Tendai Chatara.
Takashinga were now reeling at 81 for five after 17 overs without much batting to come.
The skipper and Alvin Chiradza set out to do the repair work and they did it with aplomb, sharing a sixth wicket partnership of 75, the former being the chief aggressor, punishing anything short or loose.
Roy got to his half-century with a top edge to fine leg off the bowling of Tinashe Muchawaya.
Just as it looked like the Roy and Chiradza partnership would see Takashinga 1 until the end, the former tried to hit national team under-19 bowler, Anesu Kamuriwo for a six over long-on but could not find the elevation as he was caught at the boundary by Tinashe Chiorah for 55 runs from 66 balls.
Roy’s knock included five boundaries and one maximum.
With 30 to win from 56 balls, it was left to Chiradza for a rearguard action with the lower order but Wellington Masakadza and Tanaka Chivanga departed in a space of two balls without troubling the scorers.
Takashinga needed 29 runs in 36 balls with two wickets in hand, but more importantly for Boys Dzangu, they had the set batter in Chiradza.
With 17 runs to win from 30 balls, there was a mix-up between Chiradza and Tapiwa Mufudza, a throw from Muchawaya at backward square leg finding Mufudza short of the crease and he was run out.
Trevor Mutsamba the last man in, rather than capitulating, launched a spirited rearguard action keeping Chiradza company.
Their resolute partnership gradually erased the deficit and took the team home.
It was a display of grit and resilience by Chiradza with an unbeaten 37 from 53 balls that turned the match on its head and ultimately allowed Takashinga Patriots 1 to secure a hard-fought victory.
Earlier in the day Takashinga won the toss and put Westside in, Muzarabani took four wickets for 18 runs in eight overs ably assisted by Chivanga who took two for 36 in 8.1 overs.
They restricted Westside to 185-9 in their allotted overs, Muchawaya top scoring for the Mutare-based team with an aggressive 41 from 26 balls.