The top four teams are battling it out in the 2024 NPL T20 Blast to secure a place in the final.
Some have dubbed it the battle of Ghettos, Chitungwiza represented by Gladiators and Uprising Cricket Clubs, Highfields on the other end represented by the two Takashinga’s 1 and 2.
The first qualifier will see Gladiators take on Takashinga Patriots 2 at Harare Sports Club on Thursday.
The winner of this match will advance to the final. At the same time, the loser will have another chance to qualify in the second qualifier against the winner of the Eliminator between Takashinga Patriots 1 and Uprising.
Gladiators would want to bounce back from their final group stage hammering at the hands of today’s opponents, whose victory was built on Cephas Zhuwao’s 138 from 42 balls.
The Chitungwiza-based outfit also knows how to score centuries, with two centurions on their side, captain Ashley Mufandauya and Tony Munyonga.
A new rivalry is building between these two sides, and the match promises fireworks.
Takashinga 2, made up mainly of no-name players compared to the other Takashinga, has players hungry for success.
It will be interesting to see how the Gladiators bowlers will bowl to Zhuwao after he pummeled them to all the corners of Takashinga Cricket Ground.
Gladiators have a good batting unit comprising the core of the Zimbabwe national team batters: Wessly Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Clive Madande and Munyonga.
Owen Muzondo, the leader of the Gladiators orchestra, will have something to say about it as he rallies his troops. He always has something to say, whether fielding, batting or in the dugout, giving the match a lot of colour.
Another key player for Takashinga 2 is their batting all-rounder Antum Naqvi, who is third on the batting and 6th on the bowlers charts.
Tashinga Musekiwa’s reputation as an all-rounder will again come to the fore as he is expected to contribute with the bat and bowl in the death overs for Takashinga 2.
Whatever happens, Gladiators and Takashinga 2 want to get into the final at the first time of asking, but losing is still not a train smash as the losing team will have another chance to make it into the final.
Uprising and Takashinga Patriots 2 will make history as they become the first two sides to play a domestic cricket match under lights when they square up in the day’s final match.
The Eliminator is not just about winning and getting to the final but also about which region is now Zimbabwe’s cricket hub.
A lot of pride is at stake.
