DEFENDING champions Gladiators Cricket Club are heading into the NPL T20 Blast play-offs with six consecutive victories and, perhaps more importantly, growing evidence that they can win matches without depending on the same players every time.
Their latest 39-run victory over Queens Sports Club at Harare Sports Club provided another example of the depth that has carried them through an unbeaten league campaign.
With captain Milton Shumba contributing just five runs and in-form wicketkeeper Lennox Chando departing for 26, Gladiators needed somebody else to take responsibility.
Arineshto Vhezha and Owen Muzondo stepped forward, rescuing the champions from 115/6 to help them post 190/8 before the bowlers dismissed Queens for 151 in 19.5 overs.
Vhezha finished unbeaten on 42 from 26 balls, striking four fours and a six, while Muzondo made 31 from 20 deliveries, including two sixes.
Their seventh-wicket partnership of 67 runs turned what was becoming a disappointing batting effort into a total Queens never seriously threatened.
It was the sort of contribution that gives a captain confidence heading into knockout cricket.
Gladiators have already seen Chando dominate opposition attacks, collecting three consecutive player-of-the-match awards during their winning run.
Shumba has also delivered important performances with the bat and ball.
Against Queens, however, the champions found their answers elsewhere.
Chando gave the innings early momentum with six boundaries in his 26 from 15 deliveries, while Naison Mare made 12 and Panashe Taruvinga contributed 23 from 18 balls.
Tony Munyonga added 27, but Gladiators were losing wickets too regularly to establish control.
They reached 94/4 after 10 overs before slipping to 115/6 in the 13th.
Vhezha and Muzondo then changed the direction of the innings.
Rather than allowing Queens to dominate the closing overs, they attacked when opportunities arose and added 67 runs before Muzondo fell in the 19th over.
Vhezha stayed unbeaten, giving Gladiators a strong finish despite losing eight wickets.
The batting recovery was followed by an equally encouraging performance with the ball.
Shumba, who had struggled with the bat, struck twice in the opening five overs to dismiss Elijah Jimmy for 17 and Ashley Phiri without scoring.
Muzondo removed Munashe Chimusoro for a duck as Queens fell to 33/3.
It was another important contribution from Muzondo, whose influence extended beyond his valuable runs.
Rowyn Konson briefly threatened to revive the chase with 50 from 37 balls, but Gladiators kept taking wickets around him.
Munyonga removed Konson with Queens on 92/7 after 13.2 overs, effectively ending their hopes of reaching the target.
Although captain Tanatswa Bechani made 29 and Brandon James contributed 24 in a 55-run eighth-wicket stand, Gladiators remained in control.
Munyonga finished with 3/29 from 3.5 overs, matching Shumba’s three wickets.
Shumba conceded 30 runs from four overs, while Muzondo returned 2/24 to complete an impressive all-round display.
Munashe Chipoyi also deserves credit for an economical spell of 4-0-22-0, the most restrictive figures among Gladiators’ bowlers.
The performances offered several positives for the defending champions.
Their lower order produced runs when the recognised batters failed to build on promising starts. Their captain responded to a disappointing innings by taking three wickets. Munyonga contributed in both departments, while Muzondo made an impact with bat and ball.
There was also another reminder of the value of their bowling options, with wickets shared across the attack rather than left to one player.
The victory ended Queens’ play-off ambitions and confirmed Gladiators’ sixth successive win.
Elsewhere, Old Hararians secured the final knockout place with a seven-wicket victory over Mbizo, reaching 84/3 in 7.5 overs after dismissing their opponents for 83.
Takashinga Patriots 1 defeated Rimuka by one run but finished on six points, one behind Old Hararians.
Gladiators, Rimuka, SOGO Rangers and Old Hararians will now contest the knockout stages.
For the champions, the strongest encouragement from the Queens match was not simply the margin of victory.
It was the manner in which different players contributed when the team needed them.
Chando has already shown what he can do at the top. Shumba has delivered with bat and ball. Now Vhezha, Muzondo and Munyonga have added their names to the list of players capable of changing a match.
That gives Gladiators several ways to win, a valuable quality for a side seeking to retain its title.
