Zimbabwe national league report

Takashinga's early flourish in the National First League is now prompting even the most seasoned pessimists to believe that they can go all the way and clinch the championship.

Last year's whipping boys, Takashinga have now opened up a six-point lead in the league after their fifth consecutive win of the season by 51 runs against champions Old Hararians. The Highfield-based pacesetters have 15 points while there is a group of five teams joint second on nine points.

At OH, the champions were hoping to rediscover the form that saw them snatch last season's title on the very last day but they came unstuck against a young Takashinga side booming with confidence. Takashinga opened the batting and compiled 220 all out in 50 overs with three batsmen scoring forties, the best of them being 48 by number six batsman Patrick Gada.

In reply Old Hararians were dismissed for 169 in 43.3 overs with a top score of just 38 coming from Conan Brewer batting at number three. Gada, instrumental in Takashinga's modest total, led the attack with three wickets for 43 off six overs. The defeat left Old Hararians lying in tenth place with six points from five matches and they need to arrest the slide if they are successfully to defend their crown.

Mutare Sports Club retained second position in the league despite suffering a two-wicket defeat to visiting Alexandra Sports Club. With leading players away on national duty in Kenya and Bangladesh, Mutare missed the batting services of Alistair Campbell and could only make 185 in 43 overs with seven scores of less than 10.

Alex's David Stannard ripped through the Mutare batting with seven wickets for 35 runs off his 10 overs, the best wicket-haul of the season so far. The visitors reached the victory target of 186 for the loss of eight wickets in 35.2 overs.

Old Georgians soared into third place with a three-wicket win over visiting Bulawayo Sports Club in a low-scoring match. Winless and bottom-placed, BSC were bundled out for a mere 112 in 33 overs. Dash Vaghmaria was the leading scorer with 27 runs. The hosts stumbled their way to victory in 31.4 overs, losing seven wickets in the process. Vaghmaria took three wickets for 38 off nine overs.

Universals beat Kwekwe Sports Club by 11 runs, under the Duckworth/ Lewis method, in a rain-affected match in the capital. Batting first, Universals were all out for 236 in 49.1 overs with Dave Houghton taking three wickets for 45 in 10 overs while John Vaughan-Davies claimed three for 27 off 9.1 overs. The rains saw Kwekwe's target revised to 170 in 27 overs but they could only make 158 for eight.

In Bulawayo, BAC claimed a narrow one-wicket win over Harare Sports Club in another low-scoring match. The visitors were all out for 117 in 26.4 overs while BAC lost nine wickets on their way to 118 in 42.1 overs.

Queens, runners-up last season, notched their second win of the season with a three-wicket win over winless neighbours Mac Club. Former national team player John Rennie took six wickets for 17 in 9.4 overs as Mac Club were dismissed for 121 in 45.4 overs. Queens then made 123 for seven in 39.1 overs.