FINE batting from Tony Munyonga and Clive Madande gave Gladiators a great victory over Uprising at Old Hararians Sports Club on Wednesday as they took a giant step towards retaining the National Premier League title.
Uprising, put in to bat, made a very good show, with Tariro Makauyo (76) and Ryan Kamwemba (52) forming an opening partnership of 125 in 20 overs.
Munyonga did some fine bowling to take three wickets for 32 runs very economically, off seven overs, and the total was a challenging 320 for six wickets.
Gladiators were up for the challenge, although their openers both went by the time 52 was on the board.
Then came Munyonga’s dynamic innings of 85 off 68 balls (four sixes, seven fours), and he shared a third-wicket partnership of 124 with Ashley Mufandauya who made 39.
Munyonga fell at 200 for four in the 28th over, but his wicket only brought in Madande, who went on to finish the job, smiting 73 not out off only 46 balls (three sixes, seven fours).
BRIEF SCORES
UPRISING – 320-6 in 45 overs (Tariro Makauyo 76, Brian Bennett 57, Ryan Kamwemba 52; Tony Munyonga 3/32, Munashe Zata 2/81, Masimba Marovatsanga 1/43)
GLADIATORS – 322-5 in 42 overs (Tony Munyonga 85, Clive Madande 73*, Ashley Mufandauya 39; Luke Jongwe 2/81, Brian Bennett 1/29, Takunda Manyama 1/63)
RESULT:
Gladiators won by five wickets
***
MUTARE SPORTS CLUB – 203-7 in 42 overs (Spencer Magodo 62, Nigel Bonyongwe 41, Kudzai Sauramba 40; Tanaka Chivanga 3/60, Richard Ngarava 2/22)
TAKASHINGA PATRIOTS 1 – 190 all out in 36.4 overs (Timycen Maruma 72, Blessing Muzarabani 27, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe 25; Tendai Chatara 4/25, Tatenda Mupunga 4/59, John Masara 1/17)
RESULT:
Mutare Sports Club won by 13 runs
***
QUEENS SPORTS CLUB – 191 all out in 44.2 overs (Munashe Chimusoro 43, Chris Mpofu 40, Dalubuhle Mboyi 35; Ernest Masuku 3/16, Syed Bukharri 2/20, Nkosibongwe Gogodo 1/16)
AMAKHOSI – 175 all out in 42.2 overs (Adrian Mupembe 56, Tinashe Mujuru 24, Tawanda Maposa 20; Chris Mpofu 3/16, Tanatswa Bechani 2/31, Tinaye Shayamano 2/33)
RESULT:
Queens Sports Club won by 16 runs
***
KADOMA – 318-6 in 45 overs (Tashinga Musekiwa 115, Nyasha Mayavo 108, Terrence Makoroma 39; Elvin Nxumalo 2/58, Shane Chigumbura 1/18, Luyanda Mutomba 1/49)
GOLDEN BULLS – 66 all out in 26.2 overs (Elvin Nxumalo 14, Jimmy Nyangoni 13, Kelvin Mabvute 10; Victor Chirwa 4/22, Kudakwashe Macheka 3/9, Nickel Kombora 3/14)
RESULT:
Kadoma won by 252 runs
***
MBIZO – 83 all out in 23.1 overs (Clifford Takaedza 42, Mkululi Nyathi 10, Jabulisa Tshuma 7; Patrick Nyamapfeni 4/36, Ahsan Aqil Ali 3/12, Matthew Campbell 2/10)
RAINBOW – 84-0 in 16.2 overs (Tino Chiwara 52*, Matthew Campbell 29*)
RESULT:
Rainbow won by 10 wickets. – Sports Reporter/ZimCricket.