Gladiators suffer first defeat as NPL title race goes to the wire

Gladiators – 161 all out in 26.4 overs (Wessly Madhevere 36, Tony Munyonga 24, Owen Muzondo 20; Tinashe Muchawaya 3/29, Prosper Mugeri 3/30, Mashford Shungu 2/34)

Westside – 162-7 in 35.1 overs (Tinashe Chiorah 36, Frank Mazviita 31*, Tinashe Chimbambo 28; Milton Shumba 2/26, Malcom Chikuhwa 2/34, Ashley Mufandauya 1/7) 

Westside won by three wickets

For the first time this season, after 11 successive victories, the seemingly invincible Gladiators have slipped up, going down to Westside by three wickets in a thrilling finish to their National Premier League match at Takashinga Cricket Club on Sunday.

The man to open the first cracks in the Gladiators team was Prosper Mugeri, who took their first three wickets to fall after they were put in to bat.

This included the vital wicket of Wessly Madhevere, who scored 36 opening the batting, which proved to be the top score of the innings.

After that the Gladiators batting was quite indifferent, as three of their middle order reached double figures but failed to build an innings and go beyond 20, while the tail-enders batted weakly, the last four men scraping together only five runs among them to total 161.

Mugeri in six overs took three wickets for 30 runs, while Tinashe Muchawaya finished off the tail with three for 29.

Westside had a golden opportunity now to become the first team to beat Gladiators, but they had a fight on their hands.

Tinashe Chiorah (36) and Definate Mawadzi (21) laid the foundation by scoring 46 for the first wicket, but apart from 28 from Tinashe Chimbambo the middle order did little.

When the seventh wicket fell at 113 it seemed that Westside had lost their chance and Gladiators were about to claim another victory after all.

Then came the most thrilling stage of the match, as Frank Mwazviita joined Vincent Masekesa and the two fought the best Gladiators could throw at them as they kept their eyes on the target.

For 13 overs they stayed together, Masekesa as captain playing a very careful, responsible innings, while Mwazviita was more aggressive, hitting well when he had opportunity.

They did have plenty of time, and in the end with great jubilation they reached their target after a partnership of 49, Masekesa finishing on 17 and Mwazviita 31.

It was a wonderful victory for Westside, who have the honour of becoming the first team to lower the colours of the great Gladiators team as they were on the verge of securing another NPL title.

***************************************************************

Amakhosi – 71 all out in 24.4 overs (Farai Gunda 34*, Keith Ndlovu 21, Admire Mupembe 4*; Wellington Masakadza 4/26, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/12, Roy Kaia 2/17)

Takashinga Patriots 1 – 73-2 in 11 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 26*, Cunningham Ncube 21, Joylord Gumbie 16*; Cedric Dube 1/13, Shaun Dzakatira 1/26)

Takashinga Patriots 1 won by eight wickets 

Amakhosi, tormented by the spin of Wellington Masakadza, fell easy victims to Takashinga Patriots 1 in their NPL match at Kwekwe Sports Club on Sunday.

They chose to bat and made a useful start, as the openers Farai Gunda and Keith Ndlovu put on 35 together before Masakadza came on and had Ndlovu caught by his brother Hamilton for 21.

After this Amakhosi collapsed so badly that the remaining nine batters scored only 10 runs among them.

Gunda did his best to hold his team together with 34, but they were all out for 71 in the 25th over, with Masakadza taking four wickets for 26 in his nine overs.

Takashinga lost two wickets for 38, but Tinashe Kamunhukamwe hit 26 not out off 15 balls and, helped by 16 not out from Joylord Gumbie, took the Harare side to an eight-wicket victory.

***************************************************************

Kadoma Sports Club – 289-7 in 45 overs (Carl Mumba 93, Victor Chirwa 61*, Bright Matsiwe 47; Isheunopa Musekwa 4/45, Petros Sithole 1/51, Tanatswa Bechani 1/53)

Queens Sports Club – 94 all out 22.2 overs (Tinaye Shayamano 31, Tanatswa Bechani 22, Donald Tapfuma 14; Carl Mumba 5/31, Victor Chirwa 4/16)

Kadoma Sports Club won by 195 runs 

Splendid all-round performances from Carl Mumba and Victor Chirwa were the main factors in Kadoma’s convincing 195-run victory over Queens Sports Club on their opponents’ home ground in Bulawayo on Sunday.

The visitors chose to bat and were given a good start by Takudzwanashe Kaitano (23) and Bright Matsiwe (47) who made 58 for the first wicket.

The middle order was less steady and at 115 for five the situation did not look good, with Isheunopa Musekwa having taken four of them for an eventual 45 runs.

But Tarisai Musakanda hit 45, which started to turn the situation around.

Then came the fine innings of Mumba, who smashed 93 off 48 balls, with four sixes and nine fours before being bowled by the last ball of the innings, and Chirwa, 61 not out off 60 balls.

They put on 138 in less than 14 overs for the seventh wicket, giving a total of 289 for seven wickets.

Mumba had enough energy left to take two wickets in his second over when Queens had only seven runs on the board, as he and Chirwa virtually ran through their opponents’ batting order together.

The only batter able to stay long was Tinaye Shayamano with 31, and Queens were dismissed for 94 in 22.2 overs.

Mumba’s figures were five wickets for 31 and Chirwa had four for 16.

***************************************************************

Uprising – 295 all out in 39 overs (Tafadzwa Mahachi 86, Aisha Chibanda 66, Tadiwanashe Marumani 61; Elvin Nxumalo 4/33, Marshall Maruta 3/32, Shallom Mangudze 2/47) 

Golden Bulls – 102 all out in 28.2 overs (Luyanda Mutomba 18, Tendai Tapera 17, Kelvin Mabvute 13; Jeremiah Makanya 4/25, Anesu Mlambo 2/19, Kudakwashe Katumba 2/22)

Uprising won by 193 runs

Fine fifties from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tafadzwa Mahachi gave Uprising an advantage they never lost in their 193-run victory over Golden Bulls at Masvingo Sports Club on Sunday.

Choosing to bat, Uprising lost both openers to Elvin Mxumalo for 33 runs on the board, but then Marumani played one of his brilliant attacking innings to score 61 off 39 balls.

He was backed up by Mahachi with an almost equally dazzling score of 86 off 61 balls, and later Aisha Chibanda hit 66 to take the eventual Uprising score to 295 all out.

Nxumalo with four wickets for 33 and Marshall Maruta with three for 32 stood out among the bowlers, but the others took some heavy treatment.

Golden Bulls were unable to put up a fight and were dismissed in 28.2 overs for 102, with no batter able to reach 20.

Jeremiah Makanya was the best of the bowlers with four wickets for 25.

***************************************************************

Mutare Sports Club – 208-9 in 42 overs (Nigel Bonyongwe 61, Donald Tiripano 50, Michael Maposa 29; Cuthbert Musoko 4/53, Takudzwa Chataira 3/33, Daich Nyandoro 2/43)

Takashinga Patriots 2 – 212-2 in 32.4 overs (Aliakbar Ali 95, Baxon Gopito 45, Rodney Mupfudza 41*; Silent Mujaji 1/25, Tendai Chatara 1/38)

Takashinga Patriots 2 won by eight wickets

A brilliant innings of 95 off 88 balls by Aliakbar Hamid propelled Takashinga Patriots 2 to a fine eight-wicket victory over Mutare Sports Club on the latter’s home ground on Sunday.

The hosts, put in to bat, lost three wickets for 44, but their innings was revived by a 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Nigel Bonyongwe with 61 and Donald Tiripano, 50.

It took them 24 overs, however, and after they were dismissed wickets fell quickly as the later batters tried hard to improve their scoring rate – after 45 overs nine wickets were down for 208.

Cuthbert Musoko with four wickets for 53 and Takudzwa Chataira, three for 33, did a fine job with the ball.

Baxon Gopito gave Takashinga a flying start when they replied, racing to 45 off 35 balls.

When he was out Hamid took over and was unfortunate to be out for 95 just before victory was achieved.

Rodney Mupfudza played his part with 41 not out, while Alvin Chiradza (17 not out) hurried his team to victory in a flurry of strokes.

 

NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE POINTS TABLE