DEFENDING champions Gladiators Cricket Club refused to surrender their unbeaten record as captain Milton Shumba steered them to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Takashinga Patriots 1 in the NPL T20 Blast at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
Chasing a daunting 197, Gladiators survived the loss of eight wickets to reach 197 for eight in 19.4 overs, securing their fifth victory of the tournament with just two balls remaining.
The champions had appeared in control after Lennox Chando blasted 45 from only 18 deliveries, but Takashinga fought back through Shelton Mazvitorera and Tapiwa Mufudza, who claimed three wickets apiece.
It took an unbeaten 45 from Shumba to settle the contest, with the Gladiators captain holding his nerve as wickets fell around him.
The victory also continued Chando’s remarkable individual run, with the wicketkeeper-batter collecting his third consecutive player-of-the-match award.
He had previously struck 67 against Old Hararians 1 on Sunday and an unbeaten 83 against Eastern Titans on Monday, taking his tally to 195 runs across three successive matches.
Against Takashinga, Chando was at his destructive best from the opening overs.
The wicketkeeper struck seven fours and two sixes, scoring at a remarkable strike rate of 250 as Gladiators raced to 60 inside five overs.
Naison Mare fell for six with the score on 35, but Chando continued attacking until Mazvitorera dismissed him in the fifth over.
Gladiators reached 79 for two after six overs, giving themselves a strong platform despite losing both openers.
Panashe Taruvinga contributed 16 from nine balls, while Brendon Sunguro maintained the momentum with 34 from 19 deliveries, including four fours and a six.
Takashinga responded by removing both batters, leaving Gladiators on 107 for four after nine overs.
Shumba then took responsibility for the chase, combining with Tony Munyonga in a crucial 52-run fifth-wicket partnership.
Munyonga struck 24 from 15 balls, including two sixes, before Mufudza dismissed him with Gladiators on 159/5 in the 15th over.
The champions still needed 38 runs, and Takashinga sensed an opportunity.
Mufudza removed Owen Muzondo for six before Arineshto Vhezha, who struck eight from three balls, was run out.
Mazvitorera then dismissed Victor Nyauchi for two, reducing Gladiators to 191 for eight in the 19th over.
With six runs required and only two wickets standing, Shumba remained at the crease alongside Munashe Zata.
The captain guided Gladiators home, finishing unbeaten on 45 from 33 balls, including three fours and a six, while Zata contributed five not out.
Mazvitorera returned 3/30 from three overs and Mufudza claimed three for 34 from four, but their efforts were not enough to halt the champions.
Earlier, Takashinga had threatened to put the match beyond Gladiators after electing to bat.
Kudzai Maunze struck a powerful 60 from 30 balls, including four fours and five sixes, reaching his half-century from just 22 deliveries.
He dominated a 60-run opening partnership with Ronak Patel before Laksh Bakraina removed both batters.
Uganda international Gerald Olipa then scored 63 from 40 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, while captain Roy Kaia contributed 29.
The pair added 51 for the third wicket as Takashinga built towards a total approaching 200.
Timycen Maruma chipped in with 14, while Hamilton Masakadza and Samuel Muyambo finished unbeaten on six and four respectively.
Takashinga closed on 196/5, with Bakraina returning 2/25 and Munashe Zata claiming 2/43.
Shumba was Gladiators’ most economical bowler, conceding just 17 runs from three overs.
His contribution with the ball proved valuable in a match where the other Gladiators bowlers struggled to contain Takashinga’s aggressive batting.
The victory completed another demanding assignment for the defending champions, who have now beaten Mbizo Cricket Club, Old Hararians 1, Eastern Titans and Takashinga on successive days.
While Monday’s 10-wicket demolition of Eastern Titans required little from Gladiators’ middle order, Tuesday’s contest demanded contributions throughout the batting line-up.
Chando supplied the explosive start, Sunguro and Munyonga kept the chase moving, and Shumba remained unbeaten to finish the job.
Gladiators were pushed to the brink, but their captain ensured the winning streak survived another stern examination.
