Malcolm Chikuwa had a day to celebrate at Takashinga Sports Club on Sunday, when he played a major part with bat and ball in bringing about National Premier League (NPL) table-toppers Takashinga’s shock defeat by Gladiators.
Gladiators, who began the club competition at the bottom of the table with three successive defeats, ended Takashinga’s run of four successive victories by beating them by a remarkable 86 runs.
They batted first and were in trouble when they had five wickets down for 62, three of them to the off-spin of Tapiwa Mufudza.
Then Chikuwa joined Marshall Matimbe at the crease, and the pair added 82 runs together for the sixth wicket, 37 to Chikuwa with Matimbe going on to record an unbeaten 53.
Takashinga were no doubt confident of chasing down their target of 183, even though it was larger than they had expected.
But Chikuwa was in form with the ball too and, opening the bowling with Masimba Maruvatsanga, the pair had Takashinga reeling at 22 for four wickets.
They never recovered, with only Tafadzwa Tsiga of the leading batsmen standing up to them and their replacement Owen Muzondo with a fighting innings of 41.
The only other batsman to reach double figures was the No 10, Cuthbert Musoko, who hammered 18 off 11 balls when all was lost.
Takashinga could not even reach 100, while Gladiators were jubilant as they now celebrated their third successive victory — and over the table-leaders, too.
Cephas Zhuwao, returning to form, and Nick Welsh, returning to Zimbabwe from the UK, both scored fifties to give Harare Kings a winning advantage over Rainbow Sharks in their NPL clash at Old Hararians Sports Club on Sunday.
Jabulisa Tshuma led the way again for MidWest as they secured an easy victory over Queens at Kwekwe Sports Club.
Bright Phiri of Amakhosi continued his fine run of batting form as his team returned to winning ways after two defeats, and was unfortunate just to miss scoring a century as they won against Easterns at Masvingo Sports Club.
Results
Gladiators – 182 all out in 42.6 overs (Marshall Matimbe 53*, Malcolm Chikuwa 37, Tinoda Chando 28; Tapiwa Mufudza 3/19, Cuthbert Musoko 3/40, Roy Kaia 3/49)
Takashinga – 96 all out in 24.1 overs (Tafadzwa Tsiga 41, Cuthbert Musoko 18, Kudzai Maunze 8; Malcolm Chikuwa 4/15, Owen Muzondo 4/42, Masimba Maruvatsanga 2/20)
Gladiators won by 86 runs
Harare Kings – 234-9 wickets in 45 overs (Cephas Zhuwao 53, Nick Welch 50, Zaheer Tufail 36; Brian Mudzinganyama 3/41, Brandon Mavuta 3/46, Victor Nyauchi 2/43)
Rainbow Sharks – 182 all out in 38.4 overs (Brian Mudzinganyama 43, Robertson Chinyengetere 24, Kuda Munyede 20; Taun Harrison 3/35, Brad Evans 2/25, Patrick Mambo 2/30)
Harare Kings won by 52 runs
Queens – 94 all out in 34.1 overs (Simbarashe Haukozi 27, Charles Kunje 14, Mhuriyengwe 12; Jabulisa Tshuma 3/11, Kudakwashe Macheka 2/19, Davis Murwendo 1/16)
MidWest – 96-6 in 22.1 overs (Remembrance Nyathi 31*, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 15, Manson Chikowero 12*; Sheunopa Musekwa 3/38, Tanatswa Bechani 2/33)
MidWest won by four wickets
Queens – 94 all out in 34.1 overs (Simbarashe Haukozi 27, Charles Kunje 14, Mhuriyengwe 12; Jabulisa Tshuma 3/11, Kudakwashe Macheka 2/19, Davis Murwendo 1/16)
MidWest – 96-6 in 22.1 overs (Remembrance Nyathi 31*, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 15, Manson Chikowero 12*; Sheunopa Musekwa 3/38, Tanatswa Bechani 2/33)
MidWest won by four wickets
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