Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOLLOWING months of waiting and a pause for provincial duty, the 2025 National Premier League T20 Blast returns today with everything on the line as the play-offs take centre stage at Harare Sports Club.
Zimbabwe’s premier club cricket competition has been on ice since October, making way for a busy provincial programme across all three formats.
Four-day cricket, one day matches and T20s have filled the calendar, but attention now swings back to club cricket and the chase for silverware.
Zimbabwe Cricket has confirmed that the final stretch of the NPL T20 Blast begins this week, with the top four sides from the league phase locking horns in a decisive run of matches at Harare Sports Club.
Today’s action opens with a heavyweight clash as log leaders Rimuka face second-placed Gladiators in the first qualifier, starting at 1:30pm. A place in Saturday’s final awaits the winner.
The two sides finished level on points during the round robin phase, but Rimuka edged top spot on net run rate after a 24-run victory over Gladiators in their final league meeting.
Later under the lights, Takashinga Patriots 1 and Amakhosi 1 collide in a 6:30pm eliminator, with the losing side seeing their title hopes come to an abrupt end.
The pressure intensifies tomorrow night when the loser of the first qualifier meets the eliminator winner in the second qualifier at 6.30pm. The final remaining spot in the championship match will be decided there.
Saturday afternoon will then deliver the tournament finale, with the two qualifier winners squaring off for the coveted NPL T20 Blast crown.
This year’s competition featured eight teams that earned their places through top eight finishes in the NPL 45 over tournament, with matches played between September 20 and October 13, 2025.
Alexandra, Rangers, Takashinga Patriots 2 and Queens Sports Club fell away after missing out on a top-four finish.
Rimuka and Gladiators set the pace throughout the league phase, each recording five wins from seven matches, with net run rate separating them at the summit.
Takashinga Patriots 1 and Amakhosi 1 also finished level on eight points, two adrift of the top two, with net run rate again proving decisive in Takashinga’s favour over the Bulawayo-based side.
All matches are free of charge, and fans have been urged to turn out in numbers to support their clubs.
