GLADIATORS wicketkeeper-batter Lennox Chando believes his side’s fearless approach to batting, despite losing wickets, was key to their five-wicket victory over Old Hararians (OH) in the NPL T20 Blast at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
The player of the match made 67 from 44 balls as the defending champions chased down 184 with three deliveries remaining, recording their third victory of the tournament.
Chando’s innings, which featured nine fours and a six, gave Gladiators the momentum they needed against an OH attack defending a formidable 183/5.
But the batter was quick to credit his partnership with Panashe Taruvinga, who contributed 35 from 24 balls in a 67-run second-wicket stand.
Gladiators had lost Naison Mare for three with only 13 runs on the board, yet Chando and Taruvinga refused to allow the early setback to dictate their approach.
“We had a decent start when we lost the first wicket. Myself and Panashe, we just continued with the same intent,” Chando said in his post-match interview.
“We were able to get off the powerplay. I think it was 50-something. I think that sort of set up the game for us.”
Gladiators had reached 58/1 after six overs, a significant return against a target that required more than nine runs an over from the outset.
Chando who was named Player of tge Match reached his half-century from just 29 deliveries, repeatedly finding gaps in the field and punishing anything loose.
His approach was particularly important because Gladiators could not afford to let the required scoring rate climb while attempting to preserve wickets.
For Chando, the solution was to keep attacking.
“In the middle there, it was just about not being afraid of taking that risk,” he explained.
“So we were able to take those risks. We were getting boundaries in between, which means we stayed in the game for as long as we could.”
The strategy worked well enough to keep Gladiators firmly in contention, although the chase became complicated after Chando was dismissed in the 14th over.
Ahsan Aqil Ali removed the opener before also accounting for Tony Munyonga, leaving Gladiators on 123/4 with 61 runs still needed.
Having done his part, Chando watched captain Milton Shumba take over the responsibility of finishing the job.
“When I got out, Milton came in and struck the ball,” Chando said.
Shumba scored 40 from 24 deliveries, combining with Brendon Sunguro in a 60-run partnership that brought the champions to the brink of victory.
Sunguro remained unbeaten on 21 from 15 balls, while Owen Muzondo struck the winning four off Alex Falao after Shumba was run out with the scores level.
The achievement added another highlight to a performance that combined calculated aggression with the discipline to keep the chase moving.
Old Hararians had earlier threatened to overwhelm Gladiators through a powerful batting display.
Huzaifa Syed struck 29 from 15 balls, Clive Madande made 31 from 16 and Luke Jongwe finished unbeaten on 33 as Old Hararians posted 183/5.
Gladiators captain Shumba had provided some much-needed control with the ball, returning exceptional figures of 1/16 from four overs, including a maiden.
That effort helped prevent Old Hararians from posting a total beyond the champions’ reach.
Chando’s innings then supplied the attacking foundation for the reply.
The victory followed Gladiators’ seven-wicket win over Mbizo Cricket Club on Saturday, giving the defending champions successive wins over the weekend.
Though, the satisfaction lay in helping his side complete a difficult chase, for Chando
“That was a good innings for me. It was good,” he said.
