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THE National Premier League cricket tournament winners look set to be decided on the final day after the seemingly invincible Gladiators suffered their first defeat of the season at Takashinga Sports Club on Sunday.

Gladiators suffered a three-wicket loss to Westside in a thrilling finish to their match.

The man to open the first cracks in the Gladiators team was Prosper Mugeri, who took their first three wickets to fall after they were put in to bat.

This included the vital wicket of Wessly Madhevere, who scored 36 opening the batting, which proved to be the top score of the innings.

After that the Gladiators batting was quite indifferent, as three of their middle order reached double figures but failed to build an innings and go beyond 20, while the tail-enders batted weakly, the last four men scraping together only five runs among them to total 161.

Mugeri in six overs took three wickets for 30 runs, while Tinashe Muchawaya finished off the tail with three for 29.

Westside had a golden opportunity now to become the first team to beat Gladiators, but they had a fight on their hands.

Tinashe Chiorah (36) and Definate Mawadzi (21) laid the foundation by scoring 46 for the first wicket, but apart from 28 from Tinashe Chimbambo the middle order did little.

When the seventh wicket fell at 113 it seemed that Westside had lost their chance and Gladiators were about to claim another victory after all.

Then came the most thrilling stage of the match, as Frank Mwazviita joined Vincent Masekesa and the two fought the best Gladiators could throw at them as they kept their eyes on the target.

For 13 overs they stayed together, Masekesa as captain playing a very careful, responsible innings, while Mwazviita was more aggressive, hitting well when he had opportunity.

They did have plenty of time, and in the end with great jubilation they reached their target after a partnership of 49, Masekesa finishing on 17 and Mwazviita 31.

It was a wonderful victory for Westside, who have the honour of becoming the first team to lower the colours of the great Gladiators team as they were on the verge of securing another NPL title.

At Kwekwe Sports Club, Takashinga Patriots 1 got the better of Amakhosi, who were tormented by the spin of Wellington Masakadza, by eight wickets.

Gunda did his best to hold his team together with 34, but they were all out for 71 in the 25th over, with Masakadza taking four wickets for 26 in his nine overs.

Takashinga lost two wickets for 38, but Tinashe Kamunhukamwe hit 26 not out off 15 balls and, helped by 16 not out from Joylord Gumbie, took the Harare side to an eight-wicket victory.

At Queens Sports Club, splendid all-round performances from Carl Mumba and Victor Chirwa were the main factors in Kadoma’s convincing 195-run victory over the hosts.

The visitors chose to bat and a fine innings of Mumba, who smashed 93 off 48 balls, with four sixes and nine fours before being bowled by the last ball of the innings, and Chirwa, 61 not out off 60 balls.

They put on 138 in less than 14 overs for the seventh wicket, giving a total of 289 for seven wickets.

In response, the only batter able to stay long was Tinaye Shayamano with 31, and Queens were dismissed for 94 in 22.2 overs.

Mumba’s figures were five wickets for 31 and Chirwa had four for 16.

At Masvingo Sports Club, fifties from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tafadzwa Mahachi gave Uprising an advantage in their 193-run victory over Golden Bulls.

Marumani played one of his brilliant attacking innings to score 61 off 39 balls and was backed up by Mahachi with an almost equally dazzling score of 86 off 61 balls, and later Aisha Chibanda hit 66 to take the eventual Uprising score to 295 all out.

Golden Bulls were unable to put up a fight and were dismissed in 28.2 overs for 102, with no batter able to reach 20. Jeremiah Makanya was the best of the bowlers with four wickets for 25.

At Mutare Sports Club, a brilliant innings of 95 off 88 balls by Aliakbar Hamid propelled Takashinga Patriots 2 to a fine eight-wicket victory over the hosts.

BRIEF SCORES:

GLADIATORS – 161 all out in 26.4 overs (Wessly Madhevere 36, Tony Munyonga 24, Owen Muzondo 20; Tinashe Muchawaya 3/29, Prosper Mugeri 3/30, Mashford Shungu 2/34)

WESTSIDE – 162-7 in 35.1 overs (Tinashe Chiorah 36, Frank Mazviita 31*, Tinashe Chimbambo 28; Milton Shumba 2/26, Malcom Chikuhwa 2/34, Ashley Mufandauya 1/7)

RESULT: Westside won by three wickets

AMAKHOSI – 71 all out in 24.4 overs (Farai Gunda 34*, Keith Ndlovu 21, Admire Mupembe 4*; Wellington Masakadza 4/26, Tapiwa Mufudza 2/12, Roy Kaia 2/17)

TAKASHINGA PATRIOTS 1 – 73-2 in 11 overs (Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 26*, Cunningham Ncube 21, Joylord Gumbie 16*; Cedric Dube 1/13, Shaun Dzakatira 1/26)

RESULT: Takashinga Patriots 1

won by eight wickets

….

KADOMA SPORTS CLUB – 289-7 in 45 overs (Carl Mumba 93, Victor Chirwa 61*, Bright Matsiwe 47; Isheunopa Musekwa 4/45, Petros Sithole 1/51, Tanatswa Bechani 1/53)

QUEENS SPORTS CLUB – 94 all out 22.2 overs (Tinaye Shayamano 31, Tanatswa Bechani 22, Donald Tapfuma 14; Carl Mumba 5/31, Victor Chirwa 4/16)

RESULT: Kadoma Sports Club won by 195 runs

….

MUTARE SPORTS CLUB – 208-9 in 42 overs (Nigel Bonyongwe 61, Donald Tiripano 50, Michael Maposa 29; Cuthbert Musoko 4/53, Takudzwa Chataira 3/33, Daich Nyandoro 2/43)

TAKASHINGA PATRIOTS 2 – 212-2 in 32.4 overs (Aliakbar Ali 95, Baxon Gopito 45, Rodney Mupfudza 41*; Silent Mujaji 1/25, Tendai Chatara 1/38)

RESULT: Takashinga Patriots 2

won by eight wickets

…..

 

UPRISING – 295 all out in 39 overs (Tafadzwa Mahachi 86, Aisha Chibanda 66, Tadiwanashe Marumani 61; Elvin Nxumalo 4/33, Marshall Maruta 3/32, Shallom Mangudze 2/47)

GOLDEN BULLS – 102 all out in 28.2 overs (Luyanda Mutomba 18, Tendai Tapera 17, Kelvin Mabvute 13; Jeremiah Makanya 4/25, Anesu Mlambo 2/19, Kudakwashe Katumba 2/22)

RESULT: Uprising won by 193 runs

 

Latest NPL Standings

P         W        L         T        NR      PTS     NRR

Gladiators                   12        11        1       0       0       110       1.710

Takashinga 2                12        10        1       0       1       106       1.246

Takashinga 1                12        10        2       0       0       100       3.108

Uprising                     12        10        2       0       0       100       1.850

Westside                     12        8         3       0       1       86        1.528

Mutare                       12        7         5       0       0       70        0.606

Rainbow                     12        6         5       1       0       66        0.053

Kadoma                      12        5         7       0       0       50        0.746

Amakhosi                    12        5         7       0       0       50        -0.631

Queens                       12        3         9       0       0       30        -0.638

BAC                           12        3         9       0       0       30        -1.597

Scorpions                    12        2         9       1       0       26        -1.425

Mbizo                         12        2         10     0       0       20        -2.114

Golden Bulls       12           0              12           0              0              0              -3.846