DEFENDING champions Takashinga Patriots 2 succumbed to their fourth defeat of the NPL T20 Blast, going down to Gladiators by eight wickets at Takashinga Cricket Club on Sunday despite a brilliant half-century from Ryan Kamwemba. 

Kamwemba, opening the batting for Patriots 2, was in sublime form, smashing 54 runs off just 38 deliveries.

His second-wicket partnership of 52 runs with Brendon Mavuta (25 off 20 balls) was the highlight of Patriots 2 innings’.

However, the middle order failed to capitalise on the solid start, and it took a valiant effort from captain Knowledge Kaia, 27 off 19 balls and Faraz Akram’s unbeaten 38 off 18 balls to propel the score to 176/7 in 20 overs.

For Gladiators, Phase Mukabeta was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets for 22 runs in his three-over spell. 

Patriots 2 was unable to post a target that could challenge their opponents.

In response, Gladiators made light work of the chase, with opening batsman Lennox Chando setting the tone with a quickfire 44 runs before being dismissed off the last ball of the fifth over. 

The real damage, however, was inflicted by the unbeaten third-wicket partnership between Milton Shumba and Panashe Taruvinga.

Shumba, the top scorer for Gladiators, remained unbeaten on 69 off 33 balls, while Taruvinga contributed 45 off 35 balls, as the pair guided their team home in just 15.5 overs.

The defeat leaves Takashinga Patriots 2’s title defence in jeopardy, with the team struggling to find consistency in their performances.