ALLIANCE Caravans have boosted their quest for the 2024 Petrofuel TCA Caravans T20 Cup title, cruising to the final after commanding an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Park Mobile Lions in Dar es Salaam last weekend.
The Jitin Singh-led Alliance Caravans, also the tournament hosts, met Park Mobile Lions in the weekend's final match of the showdown's Super 4 stage at the Leaders Club venue in Kinondoni.
A win for Alliance Caravans was bound to have the outfit secure a spot in the tournament's final, a goal cherished by all of the club's supporters.
However, standing in their path were the formidable Park Mobile Lions, who had breezed through the group stage.
Park Mobile Lions won the toss and opted to bat first and, despite their strong form earlier, they struggled against the disciplined bowling put on by Alliance Caravans.
Apart from opener Ejaz Aziz, Mohamad Jawed, and Yash Hirwania, who managed to reach double figures, most of Park Mobile Lions' batsmen faltered.
Alliance Caravans' bowling attack, spearheaded by Jerry Mathew, ran rings all over the opponents' batting unit.
The in-form Mathew claimed three wickets for just nine runs in his four overs to walk away with the Automark Purple Cap.
Mathew was ably supported by skipper Akhil Anil (3-14 in four overs) and Yalinde Maurice (2-17 in four overs) to bundle Park Mobile Lions out for a mere 78 runs.
With qualification seemingly assured, Alliance Caravans needed to maintain composure over the next 20 overs.
Openers Prakash Nair (43 runs not out off 30 balls) and Jitin Pratap Singh (22 off 33 balls) set a solid foundation with a 41-run partnership before Jitin fell to Park Mobile Lions' Umar Shaikh.
All-rounder Kassim Nassoro departed soon after without scoring, but Ganesh Giri's quickfire 11 runs not out off three balls sealed the victory and confirmed Alliance Caravans' place in the final.
Mathew's exceptional bowling performance earned him the Ras Logistics Man of the Match award.
Nair's aggressive batting, particularly his onslaught against Mohamed Jawed's bowling, was celebrated as the Medinova Moment of the Match.
The tournament is an annual T20 cricket showdown organized by Caravans Cricket Club.
Alliance Caravans, Aurobindo AKSC, Delaware Upanga SC, Balakrishna Foundation Aces, Flashnet Strikers, Park Mobile Lions, Harab Motors Pak Stars, Econo Lodge Lions, Azania Bank Pak Stars, and Generics Gymkhana are taking part in the showdown.
Petrofuel is the title sponsor of this tournament. Other sponsors of this tournament include Alliance Insurance, Ras Logsitics, Medinova Healthcare, Automark, Pepsi, Ashton Media, MFI-Vertiv, Jiuzhou, SmarDTV, Intek-Korea, ASAS, Colourflex, and Delaware.
Aurobindo, Balakrishna Foundation, Park Mobile, Harab Motors, Flashnet, Generics, Econo Lodge, Azania Bank, Horizon Teleports, TATA, The Works, MO Bajaj, and Seacliff Hotel are also the showpiece's sponsors.
© 2024 IPPMEDIA.COM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED