GLADIATORS Cricket Club put their opening defeat behind them with an impressive batting display, chasing down a 184-run target to beat Rangers by six wickets in the National Premier League T20 Blast at Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Naison Mare was the architect of the victory, carrying his bat for an unbeaten 85 from 51 deliveries as Gladiators reached 184 for four in 19 overs.
The result marked a strong response from Gladiators, who had suffered a narrow seven-run defeat to Rimuka in their opening match the previous day.
This time, their batting delivered when it mattered, with Mare holding the innings together after wicketkeeper Lennox Chando had given the chase an explosive start.
Chando wasted little time attacking the Rangers bowlers, smashing 40 from just 14 balls, including five fours and three sixes.
His aggression pushed Gladiators to 48 inside three overs and immediately put Rangers under pressure despite their imposing total of 183 for five.
Michael Frost briefly threatened to derail the chase when he removed Chando and Panashe Taruvinga with successive deliveries, the latter departing without scoring.
But Mare, who named the Player of the Match refused to let the double blow unsettle the innings.
He joined captain Milton Shumba in a 46-run partnership that took Gladiators to 94 before Shumba departed for 19 in the ninth over.
Gladiators still needed 90 runs, leaving Mare with the responsibility of guiding the chase through its most demanding phase.
Brendon Sunguro provided the support he needed.
The pair added 74 runs for the fourth wicket, with Mare finding the boundaries while Sunguro kept the scoreboard moving.
Sunguro made 21 from 22 deliveries before Frost struck again in the 17th over, leaving Gladiators needing 16 runs from 20 balls.
Mare, who struck six fours and four sixes, completed the job alongside Tony Munyonga, unbeaten on 10, to secure victory with an over remaining.
Earlier, Gladiators had threatened to take control of the match with the ball after reducing Rangers to 34 for three.
Shumba dismissed Matthew Campbell for six and Dion Myers without scoring in the third over, while Victor Nyauchi removed Rangers captain Jonathan Campbell for five.
Rangers, however, produced a remarkable recovery through Alistar Frost and Jarod Basson.
The pair shared a 125-run fourth-wicket partnership, transforming the innings from a difficult start into a competitive total.
Frost led the counterattack with 95 from 53 balls, striking nine fours and five sixes, while Basson contributed 44 from 41 deliveries.
Nyauchi eventually broke the partnership by trapping Basson leg before wicket before denying Frost a century when Chando completed the catch.
The seamer finished with three wickets for 23 runs from three overs, while Shumba claimed two for 20 from his three overs.
Jayden Schadendorf added an unbeaten 18 from five balls as Rangers closed on 183 for five.
The total looked capable of testing Gladiators, but Chando’s early assault changed the tempo of the chase before Mare took control.
Gladiators collected 71 runs during the powerplay despite losing two wickets, giving themselves a platform that allowed Mare to manage the remaining overs without taking unnecessary risks.
His unbeaten innings secured the club’s first victory of the tournament and demonstrated the batting depth Gladiators had struggled to convert into a winning result against Rimuka.
BRIEF SCORES
Rangers 183/5 (20 overs): Alistar Frost 95, Jarod Basson 44; Victor Nyauchi 3/23, Milton Shumba 2/20.
Gladiators 184/4 (19 overs): Naison Mare 85 not out, Lennox Chando 40, Brendon Sunguro 21.
Result: Gladiators won by six wickets.
