RYAN Simbi took five wickets for four runs from four overs as Takashinga 1 beat Queens by seven wickets in the NPL T20 Blast at Takashinga Cricket Club on Saturday, chasing down 86 with six overs to spare.
Takashinga 1 won the toss and chose to field, and the bowlers took control from the start. Simbi's spell included a maiden and three wickets in the seventh over. Queens slipped from 33/2 to 42/8 before being bowled out for 85 in 15 overs.
Simbi struck first in the third over, when Nkosana Mpofu was stumped by wicketkeeper Alvin Chiradza for two. Shelton Mazvitorera then had Rowyn Konson caught behind and Tapiwa Mufudza removed Nigeria international Elijah Jimmy for 21, caught by Timycen Maruma.
The seventh over turned the match. Simbi had Tawanda Maposa caught by Mazvitorera, then bowled Derrick Sadoki and trapped Petros Sithole leg before wicket with consecutive balls, leaving Queens on 38/6.
Mufudza had Jimmy Nyangoni stumped by Chiradza and Simbi completed his five-wicket haul by bowling Brandon James in the ninth over.
Munashe Chimusoro fought back for Queens with an unbeaten 37 off 23 balls, adding 39 for the ninth wicket with captain Tanatswa Bechani (9). Tanyaradzwa Kagumba ended the resistance, trapping Bechani leg before and then having Sheanopa Musekwa caught by Mazvitorera to finish with 2/12.
Mufudza finished with 2/26.
Tinashe Kamunhukamwe (17) and Kudzai Maunze (18, with two sixes) gave the chase a quick start before Musekwa bowled both. Sithole then trapped Ronak Patel leg before for nine, leaving Takashinga 1 on 57/3.
Captain Roy Kaia, unbeaten on 33 off 26 balls with two fours and two sixes and Maruma (8 not out) saw the side home in the 14th over.
The win is Takashinga 1's second in three matches in the competition.
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