Man of steel Simbi leads Patriots 2 rout

TAKASHINGA Patriots 2 won their ninth National Premier League match on Sunday, beating Eastern Titans by seven wickets at Old Hararians Sports Club. Titans batted first after winning the toss. Their innings struggled from the start. In the sixth over, Tanyaradzwa Kagumba trapped Tafadzwa Nyamugure (11) Leg Before Wicket. Wickets then kept falling. Patriots 2 stand-in captain Daichi Nyandoro bowled well, taking three for 11, including the wicket of top scorer Tendai Chatara (22). Ryan Simbi also shone with three for 19 from a tight nine-over spell. Marshall Takodza took two wickets, while Kagumba and John Masara picked up one each. Titans were bowled out for 113 in 33.4 overs. Takashinga 2’s chase began poorly. Opener Cephas Zhuwao went for one run in the first over, and Tafadzwa Mahachi was out for six in the fifth. But Kupakwashe Muradzi steadied things with an unbeaten 73, hitting nine fours and two sixes. He shared a 72-run third-wicket stand with Brandon Senzere (29) to put the game beyond doubt. Tanunurwa Makoni added unbeaten four runs, and Takashinga reached 115 for three in 19 overs to seal a comfortable seven-wicket win.