Gladiators pip Kadoma as Mbizo’s wait for first win continues

Kadoma – 242 all out in 44.2 overs (Nyasha Mayavo 93, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 61, Bright Matsiwe 29; Owen Muzondo 3/41, Cromen Zinyama 2/35, Munashe Zata 2/48)

Gladiators – 246-8 in 44.5 overs (Lennox Chando 80, Ashley Mufandauya 56, Owen Muzondo 21; Victor Chirwa 3/22, Davis Murwendo 2/30, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 1/14)

Gladiators won by two wickets

The National Premier League (NPL) match of the day took place at Old Hararians Sports Club, where a drive for four by Tanatswa Chisvo took Gladiators to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Kadoma with just one ball to spare.

Kadoma’s strong batting brought them a score of 242 when they chose to go in, the highlights being the fine innings of 61 off 72 balls by Takudzwa Kaitano and 93 off 81 balls by Nyasha Mayavo.

After 40 overs Kadoma were 221 for six wickets, but their last four wickets fell quickly, and this proved costly in the end as they were dismissed for 242.

Gladiators made excellent progress with Lennox Chando (80 off 107 balls) and Ashley Mufandauya (56 off 56 balls) adding 107 for the third wicket to take the score to 164 for three in the 32nd over.

Then wickets began to fall, and the match was in the balance when the eighth wicket fell at 225 with only 10 balls remaining.

Then Chisvo rose to the occasion, scoring 13 not out off eight balls, well supported by Cromen Zinyama, 10 not out off five, and Gladiators secured a close and exciting win.

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Queens Sports Club – 118 all out in 36.3 overs (Dalubuhle Mboyi 24, Jonathan Baloyi 14, Chris Mpofu 14; John Masara 4/21, Patrick Chinengundu 2/8, Silent Mujaji 2/26)

Mutare Sports Club – 119-4 in 22.5 overs (Kudzai Sauramba 32, Spencer Magodo 29*, Nigel Bonyongwe 28; Petros Sithole 2/23, Vusi Kasipani 2/30)

Mutare Sports Club won by six wickets

The bowling of Silent Mujaji and John Masara played a major part in Mutare Sports Club’s six-wicket victory over Queens Sports Club in their NPL clash at Masvingo Sports Club on Saturday.

Mutare decided to bowl first, and Mujaji made the vital initial breakthrough by taking two wickets in his second over to make the score 15 for two wickets.

Masara then got to work, bowling out four middle-order batters cheaply, with opener Dalu Mboyi the only man to pass 15 – he made 24, with a total 118.

Mujaji’s two vital wickets cost 26 runs, while Masara had four for 21.

Mutare lost Clive Chitumba for two, but Nigel Bonyongwe (28) and Kudzai Sauramba (32) put the innings on the right track, while Spencer Magodo (29 not out) took them home.

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Scorpions – 227-9 in 45 overs (Blessed Muzite 62, Costa Zhou 49, Tariro Kapungu 33*; Shepherd Dube 3/56, Manson Chikowero 2/35, Lesley Chemudondo 1/21)

Mbizo – 143 all out in 38.1 overs (Manson Chikowero 26*, Tafara Chingwara 18, Mkululi Nyathi 17; Tawananyasha Kasondo 2/8, Costa Zhou 2/19, Nkosilathi Nungu 2/28)

Scorpions won by 84 runs 

Blessed Muzite and Costa Zhou played fine innings for Scorpions as they secured a straightforward victory by 84 runs over Mbizo in their NPL game at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Scorpions chose to bat, and Muzite, opening the innings, made 62 off 91 balls to give his side a sound start.

When he was out Zhou hit a more aggressive 49 off 36 balls, and though few of the later batters came off, the total was a useful 227 for nine wickets.

Mbizo were never in the hunt, as wickets fell steadily and the eighth man was out at 94.

Manson Chikowero fought back to score 26 not out, and with Tafara Chingwara making 18 these two managed to take the final score to 143 to lessen the margin of defeat.

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SOURCE: ZIMBABWE CRICKET