LENNOX Chando claimed his third successive player-of-the-match award as defending champions Gladiators Cricket Club survived a fierce Takashinga 1 challenge to secure a dramatic two-wicket victory in the NPL T20 Blast at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.
The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 45 from just 18 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes, to launch Gladiators’ pursuit of 197 before captain Milton Shumba held the innings together with an unbeaten 45.
Gladiators eventually reached 197/8 in 19.4 overs, completing their fifth victory of the tournament with just two deliveries remaining.
For Chando, the award completed a remarkable three-day run after his match-winning 67 against Old Hararians 1 on Sunday and unbeaten 83 against Eastern Titans on Monday.
He has now scored 195 runs across those three matches, playing a decisive role in keeping the defending champions’ winning streak intact.
But Tuesday’s victory was anything but straightforward.
Takashinga, who elected to bat, posted a challenging 196/5, powered by half-centuries from Kudzai Maunze and Uganda international Gerald Olipa.
Maunze tore into the Gladiators attack with 60 from 30 balls, striking four fours and five sixes.
He raced to his half-century from just 22 deliveries and dominated an opening stand of 60 with Ronak Patel, who contributed 10.
Gladiators found some relief through Laksh Bakraina, who removed both openers and finished with 2/25 from three overs.
Olipa then took charge, striking 63 from 40 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes.
He shared a 51-run third-wicket partnership with captain Roy Kaia, who made 29 from 23 balls, keeping Takashinga on course for a total approaching 200.
Munashe Zata dismissed Kaia and Timycen Maruma, who contributed 14, while Victor Nyauchi eventually removed Olipa in the final over.
Zata finished with 2/43 and Nyauchi claimed 1/41, while Shumba provided valuable control with figures of 0/17 from three overs.
Takashinga’s 196/5 left Gladiators facing their biggest successful chase of the tournament so far.
Chando wasted little time attacking the target.
