DEFENDING champions Gladiators Cricket Club are back in the NPL T20 Blast final after dismantling Rimuka by 107 runs in Friday’s second qualifier at Harare Sports Club, with Arineshto Vhezha taking five wickets for the second time in the space of two knockout matches.
After squeezing past Old Hararians by four wickets on Thursday, Gladiators left little room for another nervous finish. They posted 201/7 before bowling Rimuka out for 94 in 17.4 overs to book Saturday’s final against SOGO Rangers.
The victory owed much to the timely return of Ashley Mufandauya, the batting of Naison Mare and another outstanding spell from Vhezha, who has become Gladiators’ most dangerous bowler at the business end of the competition.
Mufandauya could scarcely have chosen a better time to return to the side.
Opening alongside Lennox Chando, he struck 39 from just 18 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes to give Gladiators the sort of start that can settle a knockout contest early.
The pair put on 51 in only 23 deliveries, with Chando contributing 20 from 11 balls.
By the end of the powerplay, Gladiators were 64/2, both openers having fallen to Davis Murwendo.
But Rimuka’s relief was short-lived.
Mare took charge of the innings, making 73 from 44 deliveries with five fours and three sixes. He reached his half-century from 30 balls and kept the scoreboard moving even as wickets fell around him.
Captain Milton Shumba contributed 19 from 21 balls in a 55-run third-wicket partnership with Mare, before Panashe Taruvinga joined the latter in a 60-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Taruvinga made 16 from 14 balls as Gladiators moved to 177/4 in the 18th over.
Mare eventually fell for 73, caught by Tarisai Musakanda off Ignace Ntirenganya, but the damage had been done.
Tony Munyonga and Owen Muzondo chipped in with 10 runs each as Gladiators passed 200, leaving Rimuka needing to score at more than 10 runs an over.
Ntirenganya finished with 3/27, while Murwendo took 2/35.
Rimuka had already lost to SOGO Rangers in Thursday’s first qualifier. Their second chance at reaching the final lasted barely six overs before Vhezha took control.
He removed Victor Chirwa for a duck in the second over and followed up by bowling Villan Changa for 12.
Munashe Zata dismissed Nyasha Mayavo, who had threatened to make a contest of it with 18 from nine balls, before Vhezha removed Musakanda without scoring.
Rimuka were 32/3 after 3.2 overs and soon found themselves in deeper trouble.
Vhezha bowled captain Takudzwanashe Kaitano for nine and had Tendai Chisoro caught for a duck, leaving Rimuka reeling at 45/6 after six overs.
His figures of 5/20 from four overs, including a maiden, were the best of the match and earned him another player-of-the-match award.
Kevin Kasuza managed 12, while Owen Muzondo also picked up a wicket as Rimuka’s innings ended at 94.
For Vhezha, it was another remarkable afternoon.
He had taken 3/28 against Old Hararians on Thursday, helping Gladiators survive a difficult Eliminator. Against Rimuka, he was even more destructive, taking his tally to eight wickets for 48 runs across the two knockout matches.
His contribution has been particularly important because Gladiators have reached the final through the longer route, having to win successive elimination matches rather than qualifying directly for the title decider.
There was also encouragement in the batting department.
Mufandauya’s return brought immediate aggression to the top order, while Mare showed he could build a substantial innings after the openers had departed.
Those contributions allowed Gladiators to defend a total that gave their bowlers plenty to work with, a welcome change from Thursday’s tight chase against Old Hararians.
The champions now face Rangers, who earned direct passage to the final after beating Rimuka in the first qualifier.
Gladiators have had to play twice to get there, but they arrive with two wins in two days, a returning opener in attacking form and a bowler who has taken eight wickets in the knockout stages.
One more victory on Saturday will give them another NPL T20 Blast title.
