Uprising conquer Queens as Gladiators dehorn Bulls
Uprising – 151 all out in 39.3 overs (Ryan Kamwemba 34, Tariro Makauyo 33, Takunda Manyama 29; Petros Sithole 5/29, Chris Mpofu 2/20, Tanatswa Bechani 2/28)
Queens – 146 all out in 43.4 overs (Tanatswa Bechani 35, Isheunopa Musekwa 21, Chris Mpofu 16*; Takunda Manyama 5/27, George Matanga 2/19, Dylan Hondo 2/22)
Uprising won by five runs
A five-wicket haul for only 27 runs by Takunda Manyama gave Uprising an exciting five-run victory over Queens in their National Premier League clash at Kwekwe Sports Club on Saturday.
Uprising, who decided to bat first, owed their total of 151 to two good partnerships.
After losing two early wickets, Tariro Makauyo (33) and Ryan Kamwemba (34) put on 58 for the third wicket before more wickets fell quickly.
The team was rescued by Gilford Muzeya (20) and Takunda Manyama (29) who added 38 for the eighth wicket.
The bowler doing most of the damage was Petros Sithole, who took five wickets for 29 runs in eight overs.
Queens had one major partnership in their innings, when Isheunopa Musekwa (21) and Tanatswa Bechani (35) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 61.
After they reached 111 for three wickets, Manyama caused a collapse, as he took five wickets for 27 runs, and the Queens innings came to an end five runs short of their opponents’ score.
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Gladiators – 243-9 in 43 overs (Ashley Mufandauya 55, Lennox Chando 38, Simbarashe Murumbi 25; Albert Ndlovu 3/56, Leon Ncube 2/22, Misheck Gwizi 1/32)
Golden Bulls – 192 all out in 42.4 overs (Shane Chigumbura 62, Kumbirai Machaka 54, Kelvin Mabvute 33; Owen Muzondo 4/34, Malcom Chikuhwa 2/21, Munashe Zata 2/32)
Gladiators won by 51 runs
A devastating spell of bowling from Owen Mozondo turned the match for Gladiators and cut off a valiant Golden Bulls victory charge, bringing his side victory by 51 runs at Masvingo Sports Club.
Gladiators, who chose to bat, put together a very consistent innings of 243 for nine wickets in 43 overs, with nine batters in their team all reaching double figures.
Lennox Chando began the innings with a good 38, while the captain, Ashley Mufandauya, was the top scorer with 55 off only 38 balls.
Bulls made an excellent challenge, beginning with an opening partnership of 53 between Shane Chigumbura (62) and Kelvin Mabvute (33).
With Chigumbura and Kumbirai Machaka together the score reached 149 for three, although with only 10 overs left Bulls were under pressure with their scoring rate.
Then Muzondo came on to bowl a second spell and shattered their middle order, with no other batter reaching double figures.
Muzondo finished with four wickets for 34 runs and Bulls were dismissed for 192.
