GLADIATORS Cricket Club’s batting depth came to the rescue as the defending champions survived a late scare to beat Old Hararians 1 by five wickets in the NPL T20 Blast at Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Owen Muzondo struck the winning boundary with three balls remaining, completing a chase of 184 that had demanded important contributions from several players.
The victory, Gladiators’ third of the tournament, followed Saturday’s seven-wicket win over Mbizo Cricket Club.
This time, however, the champions were pushed to the final over.
Old Hararians had made 183 for five after being sent in to bat, with their top order taking advantage of an expensive Gladiators bowling attack.
Ahsan Aqil Ali and Huzaifa Syed added 53 for the opening wicket, with Syed striking 29 from 15 balls and Ali contributing 22.
Clive Madande followed with 31 from 16 deliveries, while captain Aliakbar Hamid made 25.
Old Hararians reached 101/2 after 10 overs and appeared capable of posting well beyond 200.
Gladiators skipper, Milton Shumba’s bowling prevented that possibility from becoming a reality.
Shumba conceded just 16 runs from his four overs, including a maiden, and dismissed Brandon Ndiweni.
His figures stood out as Victor Nyauchi went for 52 runs in four overs and Phase Mukabeta conceded 40.
Luke Jongwe’s unbeaten 33 and Tinotenda Maposa’s 14 not out helped Old Hararians reach 183/5, leaving Gladiators with a demanding chase.
The champions lost Naison Mare early, but Lennox Chando and Panashe Taruvinga then put the innings back on course.
The pair added 67 for the second wicket, with Chando attacking from the outset and Taruvinga matching his intent.
Gladiators reached 58/1 after six overs, maintaining the scoring rate needed to challenge the target.
Taruvinga made 35 from 24 balls, including two fours and two sixes.
Chando went on to score 67 from 44 deliveries, hitting nine fours and a six to earn the player-of-the-match award.
He reached his half-century from 29 balls.
Old Hararians fought back through Ahsan Aqil Ali, who dismissed Chando and Tony Munyonga to leave Gladiators on 123/4 after 14 overs.
With 61 runs needed from six overs, the responsibility shifted to Shumba and Brendon Sunguro.
The captain struck 40 from 24 balls, while Sunguro contributed an unbeaten 21 from 15 deliveries.
Their 60-run partnership brought Gladiators to within two runs of victory at the start of the final over.
Sunguro took a single off Alex Falao’s first delivery to level the scores, but Shumba was run out on the next ball.
Muzondo then arrived and dispatched his first delivery through deep square leg for four, taking Gladiators to 187/5 in 19.3 overs.
The winning shot completed a chase in which Gladiators had recovered from two potentially damaging setbacks.
Chando and Taruvinga repaired the early damage after Mare’s dismissal, while Shumba and Sunguro rebuilt from 123/4 when Old Hararians threatened to regain control.
Shumba had already made his mark with the ball, producing the most economical spell of the match before returning to play a decisive role with the bat.
Muzondo’s boundary ensured those efforts were rewarded.
