SHAMIM Ali put on a stellar display with the ball as Lions A bounced back in the 2024 Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Delaware Champions League with a seven-wicket demolition of Aga Khan SC last weekend.

The Harsheed Chohan-led Aga Khan SC had the chance to take the crease first when the teams faced off at the Leaders Club venue, posting 131/9 in the allotted 20 overs.

Aga Khan SC's most trusted cricketers battled to exhibit their virtuosity, with Dhrumit Mehta and Abhik Patwa starting the club's quest for a convincing figure solidly.

Mehta scored 25 runs and had Aga Khan SC moving to 55-2 once the youthful cricketer made his way back in the seventh over.

Even though Patwa got out much earlier after he was caught by Aga Khan SC's Karim Kiseto from Shamim Ali's bowling after 21 balls, he ended with 21 runs.

Jumanne Mohamed ensured Aga Khan SC's top-order batsmen proved their worth, nailing 33 runs.

With Aga Khan SC at 55-2 in the seventh over, the hard-hitting Vishal Patel went in and had the club moving to 116-3 in the 16th over following his impressive 36 runs.

The youthful Mohamed had Aga Khan SC reaching 120-5 once he was caught by Lions A's Ejaz Aziz from Ali's delivery in the 17th over.

A batting collapse, which came into view after Patel's exit, though, proved disastrous for Aga Khan SC.

None of the other members of the batting lineup, from the middle-order to the low-order, had made his way back with two digits as the lineup quickly crumbled.

Laksh Snehal made his way back with bat in hand, chipping in with five runs not out, as the remainder of the performers could not withstand Lions A's bowling surge.

Ali confidently orchestrated Lions A's bowling onslaught having posted 3-36 in his four overs.

Umar Shaikh compounded woes for the Aga Khan SC batting lineup as the cricketer notched 2-11 and completed his spell with a 2.75 economy rate.

Needing 132 runs to come out victorious, the Mohamed Salim-led Lions A confidently got down to a successful pursuit of the target, whilst dropping three wickets.

Lions A went on to notch 136/3 in 18.1 overs, with opener Kashif Ahmad and Shaikh taking control of the quest for a convincing victory.

Ahmad led the chase with an impressive 61 runs and he pushed Lions A to 106-3 once the performer was sent back in the 14th over.

The other opener, Aziz, had two digits in his otherwise brief stay, posting 13 runs.

They were unperturbed by an early exit of skipper Salim, as Shaikh (34 runs not out) partnered Kiseto (20 runs not out) to win the match.

Lions A's Ahmad duly walked away with the Player of the Match prize for his batting heroics which proved decisive.

Caravans Cricket Club, before November 24 fixtures, enjoyed the driver's seat, boasting an impressive 1.7368 Net Run Rate (NRR) having won four ties and conceded a loss in one.

Second-placed Aces A had taken pride in having the same number of matches won and lost but the squad has posted a 0.6980 NRR.

Lions A was sitting third with a victory in three ties and a loss in two, which have had the side settling for a -0.2463 NRR.

Pak Stars A was positioned fourth with a 0.5336 NRR from a victory in two games and a loss in as many ties.

Although fifth-placed Strikers tied Pak Stars A on the number of wins and losses, they had an inferior -0.9211 NRR.

Delaware Upanga SC A was placed sixth with a -0.6925 NRR following a victory in one clash and a loss in three matches.

Bottom-placed Aga Khan SC had yet to emerge victorious in the five matches it has taken part in, settling for an inferior -1.5357 NRR.

Aga Khan SC, which is seemingly going through a rough patch, had garnered 675 runs and leaked 754 runs in the ties it has honoured.

The TCA-organized tournament, involving Division A clubs, is one of the high-profile club events seeking to efficiently develop cricket locally.

Strikers, Pak Stars A, Delaware Upanga SC A, Aga Khan SC, Caravans, Aces A, and Lions A are the teams battling for the silverware in the 2024 TCA Delaware Champions League.