DEFENDING champions Gladiators Cricket Club pushed Rimuka to the final over but fell seven runs short in a closely contested National Premier League T20 Blast encounter yesterday.
Panashe Taruvinga struck 44 from 40 balls and captain Milton Shumba added 22 as Gladiators recovered from early trouble to finish on 136 for eight in pursuit of Rimuka’s 143 for nine.
Their 50-run fourth-wicket partnership revived a chase that had faltered at 42 for three inside six overs, but Rwandan international Ignace Ntirenganya proved decisive with five wickets for 18 runs.
Gladiators had earlier fought back with the ball after Rimuka raced to 57 for one in the powerplay.
Wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo led the early assault with 36 from 21 deliveries before Gladiators’ bowlers turned the innings around.
Arineshto Vhezha, Owen Muzondo and Munashe Zata claimed two wickets apiece as Rimuka slipped from 57 for one to 87 for six in the 12th over.
Vhezha finished with two for 20, Muzondo took two for 24 and Zata returned two for 23. Phase Mukabeta, Victor Nyauchi and Tanzanian recruit Laksh Bakraina chipped in with a wicket each.
Tendai Chisoro rescued Rimuka with an unbeaten 34 from 27 balls, guiding his side to 143 for nine.
Gladiators’ chase suffered an early blow when Lennox Chando fell for five.
Brendon Sunguro managed nine but reached the personal milestone of 2,000 runs during his innings.
Tony Munyonga contributed 20 from 16 balls before Ntirenganya removed him to leave Gladiators on 42 for three.
Shumba and Taruvinga steadied the innings, adding 50 runs from 49 balls to bring Gladiators back into contention.
Ntirenganya broke the partnership when he bowled Shumba for 22, leaving Taruvinga to carry the chase.
The latter battled to 44 before Nkosilathi Nungu dismissed him in the 19th over, with Gladiators still needing 22 runs from 11 balls.
Ntirenganya then removed Nyauchi and Mukabeta in the final over to complete his five-wicket haul and secure victory for Rimuka.
Gladiators finished on 136 for eight, with Vhezha unbeaten on eight.
Despite the defeat, Gladiators’ middle-order recovery and their bowling fightback offered encouragement, although the inability to finish the chase proved costly.
Bakraina’s inclusion also marked the club’s participation in Zimbabwe Cricket’s regional development initiative, which has brought eight players from Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania into the competition.
