TAKASHINGA Patriots 1 defended 216 to beat Gladiators Cricket Club by 11 runs in a National Premier League 40-over match at Takashinga Cricket Club in Highfield on Wednesday. Gladiators won the toss and opted to field. Batting first, Takashinga were led by Brendan Taylor who struck a fluent 85 off 83 balls with 10 fours and a six. He shared a 120-run stand with Hashim Ibrahim who made 41 off 65. The innings gained late momentum through Samuel Muyambo’s unbeaten 39 off 32 and Kundai Matigimu 6 not out off three balls, taking Takashinga to 216/7 in 40 overs. With the ball for Gladiators, Phase Mukabeta took 2/33 and Munashe Chipoyi was tidy with 2/19 from 6 overs. In reply, Gladiators were kept in the game by Tony Munyonga’s 88 off 77, an innings that included 9 boundaries and 2 sixes. Lennox Chando supported with 34 and Owen Muzondo added 25. But Takashinga’s attack struck at key moments. Tapiwa Mufudza led the way with 3/32 from 8 overs, removing Munyonga, Naison Mare and Malcom Chikuhwa. Samuel Muyambo backed it up with 2/32, including the wicket of Chando. Matigimu, Antum Naqvi, Munashe Chipara and Roy Kaia all claimed a wicket as Gladiators closed on 205/9 in 40 overs. The 11-run win gives Takashinga 1 another two points at home.