Gladiators get NPL title defence off to flying start

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Gladiators – 289-9 in 45 overs (Tony Munyonga 102, Wessly Madhevere 85, Milton Shumba 29; Mathew Campbell 4/39, Patrick Nyamapfeni 2/46, Robert Chiminya 1/35)

Rainbow – 122-9 in 29.3 overs (Lavert Masunda 40, Ronald Moyo 29, Tino Chiwara 16; Milton Shumba 4/13, Malcom Chikuhwa 3/12, Wessly Madhevere 1/24)

Gladiators won by 167 runs

Gladiators got their National Premier League (NPL) title defence off to a flying start, thanks to a brilliant second-wicket partnership of 123 between Wessly Madhevere and Tony Munyonga as they overpowered Rainbow by 167 runs at Old Hararians Sports Club on Saturday.

Their stand helped bring about a huge total of 289 for nine wickets in 45 overs, with Madhevere opening the batting and scoring 85 off 76 balls with three sixes and eight fours.

Munyonga came in first wicket down to reach 102 off 104 balls, with five sixes and eight fours, the total being 235 for three wickets when he was out.

Mathew Campbell was the best of the bowlers, with four wickets for 39 runs.

Rainbow had little hope in the face of such a total and finished at 122 for nine, their top scorer being Lavert Masunda with 40.

There were three wickets for Malcom Chikuhwa and four for 13 for Milton Shumba as Gladiators completed a big victory by 167 runs.

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Amakhosi – 98 all out in 23.3 overs (Ernest Masuku 27, Raymond Kasimo 27, Tinotenda Maposa 17; Fortune Mhlanga 3/13, Anesu Kamuriwo 2/12, Frank Mazviita 2/16)

Westside – 101-4 in 22 overs (Takudzwa Nyamugure 38, Definate Mawadzi 16, Tinashe Chiorah 13; Raymond Kasimo 2/16, Ernest Masuku 1/13, Cedric Dube 1/18)

Westside won by six wickets 

A fine spell of bowling from Fortune Mhlanga for Westside put the skids under the Amakhosi innings in their NPL match at Masvingo Sports Club on Saturday, and they never recovered, losing by six wickets.

Put in to bat, they were all out for 98, with only two innings of 27 by Raymond Kasimo and the captain Ernest Masuku defying the bowlers for long.

Mhlanga took two early wickets as the first four went down for 25, and he finished with figures of three wickets for 13 runs.

Takudzwa Nyamugure opened the batting for Westside, and scored a solid 38 to put his team well on the way to victory.

In 22 overs, Westside scored 101 for four wickets to gain the victory.

SOURCE: ZIMBABWE CRICKET