NPL T20 Blast: Gladiators, Uprising, Takashinga 2 take top 2 fight to final day

Mutare – 173/5 in 20 overs (Matthew Welch 68, Donald Tiripano 28*; Dylan Hondo 2-28, Aisha Chibanda 1-16)

Uprising – 177/4 in 18.1 overs (Nicholas Welch 75*, Ryan Burl 39; Donald Tiripano 1-23, Nkosilathi Nungu 1-24)

Uprising Cricket Club won by 6 wickets

Brothers Nicholas Welch and Matthew Welch both scored half-centuries, but they were on both sides with the former leading his Uprising side to a six wicket victory over Mutare in a National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast match at Old Hararians Sports Club.

Matthew Welch opened and scored 68 off 39, with two sixes and six fours for Mutare, creating a platform for a score which looked to be sniffing at 200 at some point.

The Uprising bowling pulled it back after Aisha Chibanda removed Welch caught at deep backward square leg by George Matanga.

Jayden Schadendorf came in with 19 and Clive Chitumba 21.

It was Donald Tiripano with 28 off 14 who carried the score to what it was.

Nicholas Welch then came through, hitting an unbeaten 75 off 50, 10 of those as fours.

Around him were Ryan Burl with 39 and Tafadzwa Mahachi 24 as Uprising booked their ticket into the knockout stages of the tournament.

The good for thing for them is they could finish second if they beat Amakhosi on Tuesday. That is if Gladiators beat Takashinga 2 on the same day.

Westside – 153/9 in 20 overs (Prosper Mugeri 39, Tinashe Chiorah 34; Tapiwa Mufudza 3-25, Richard Ngarava 2-23, Priviledge Chesa 2-34)

Takashinga 1 – 154/4 in 19,1 overs (Joylord Gumbie 58, Roy Kaia 53; Vincent Masekesa 2-33, Bright Njanji 1-15, Definate Mawadzi 1-17)

Takashinga 1 won by 6 wickets

Takashinga 1 have also pretty-much qualified for the knockout phase after beating Westside by six wickets at Takashinga Cricket Club.

Their openers Joylord Gumbie and Roy Kaia put on 113 for the first wicket before the latter fell for 53, stumped off the bowling of Vincent Masekesa. Gumbie followed two overs later, falling to the same bowler for 58.

Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Chamu Chibhabha struggled a bit and the match looked like it would be up for a dicey end.

Carl Mumba pulled a huge a six over deep midwicket off Frank Mazviita to win the match with five balls to go.

Earlier, Prosper Mugeri scored 39 and opener Tinashe Chiorah 34 had the biggest share of the runs in Westside’s effort.

Takashinga 2 – 173/6 in 20 overs (Antum Naqvi 92, Rodney Mupfudza 29; Thabo Mboyi 4-35, Ernest Masuku 2-30)

Amakhosi – 115/9 in 20 overs (Tanatswa Bechani 46, Tawanda Mhora 27; Trevor Gwandu 4-13, Wallace Mubayiwa 2-14)

Takashinga 2 won by 58 runs

Takashinga 2 are guaranteed a place in the final and now merely have the jeopardy of first or second after they beat Amakhosi by 58 runs at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Antum Naqvi almost became the third centurion in as many matchdays but fell short, scoring 92 off 48. He scored seven sixes and seven sixes before he was trapped leg before by Ernest Masuku.

Rodney Mupfudza made 29 after that but there nothing after that.

Still 174 was a big target for the struggling Amakhosi.

And struggle they did, Tanatswa Bechani the only resistance in what was a fruitless endeavour.

Rainbow – 106 all out in 17.0 overs (Robert Chiminya 18, Brandon Mavuta 15; Owen Muzondo 5-18, Wessly Madhevere 3-15)

Gladiators – 107/4 after 12.1 overs (Ashley Mufandauya 41, Milton Shumba 38; Jonafhan Campbell 2-7, Francis Sande 1-15)

Gladiators won by 6 wickets

Gladiators have given themselves a shot at the coveted top two finish after beating Rainbow by six wickets.

Owen Muzondo took five wickets in bowling out the winless rainbow side in 17 overs. Wessly Madhevere took the other three.

Ashley Mufandauya scored an unbeaten 41 and Milton Shumba, 38, as the Chitungwiza chased down the total in no time.

Gladiators now know that if they beat Takashinga 2 on Thursday, they will be guaranteed second, which gives them two bites at the cherry in getting to the final.

NPL T20 Blast 2023

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