PROMISING cricketer Ivan Ismail put up a stellar batting showing to propel Pak Stars A to this season's Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Dar 50 Overs Cup's Division A semi-finals after garnering a six-wicket thrashing of Aces A in the city recently.

Ismail's solid batting, buoyed by experienced player Zafar Khan's all-round exploits, had Pak Stars A confidently getting down to a gallant chase of Aces A's total and assuring themselves of progression to the semi-finals.

Aces A, led by senior cricketer Asif Butt, went in to bat first and were skittled for 140 runs in 37.1 overs, with top-order batsmen playing a pivotal role in the club's ability to register the convincing total.

After a slight wobble resulting from an early dismissal of the opener Butt that made his way back to the pavilion while being one run short of two digits, fellow top-order cricketer, Nassib Kelvin, partnered Alishihab Bukhari to ensure  Aces A's cricketers are in control their innings.

Kelvin made his experience count given the performer notched 30 runs- consisting of four boundaries and a sixer- propelling the batting outfit to 46 runs in the eighth over when the performer was run out by Rana Waqas from Mohammad Ali's bowling.

Bukhari - slotted in at number three - was the eventual top run-getter during the club's turn with the bat, scoring 34 from 59 balls while blasting three boundaries.

Youthful cricketer Hamza Ally (19 runs) and senior performer Ally Mpeka who notched 11 runs, moreover, contributed significantly to Aces A's total.

Aisah Chibanda and Jeremiah Makanya - key performers for Aces A in various club showdowns in recent years - experienced a less convincing outing having ended with single digits. 

Chibanda ended two runs short of a two-digit figure and Makanya was three runs short of two digits.

Khan led Pak Stars A's bowling attack, taking four wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs, and was ably assisted by Ali (3-24 in 10 overs) to keep Aces A's batting unit in check. 

Needing 141 runs from the allotted 50 overs to grab a victory, Pak Stars A hardly wasted time- cruising to the win for four wickets in mere 27.3 overs.

Ismail, a regular opener for the batting outfit, zealously orchestrated the chase, blasting 74 runs which included five boundaries and four sixes, and deservedly garnered the Player of the Match prize.

Khan moreover displayed his all-round prowess, ending with an impressive 65-ball 40 while blasting six boundaries.

The equally experienced cricketer had impressively proved his worth following brief spells that top-order cricketers Nisar Ahmed (two runs) and Mohamed Omary (five runs) had endured.

Team captain Kashif Adnan and Hassan Raza had a fifth-wicket stand which made certain of Pak Stars A's progression to the last four, as Adnan ended with three runs not out and Raza chipped in with 11 runs not out-nailing a four and a sixer.

Pak Stars A cricketers' chase was moreover buoyed by 11 extras leaked by Aces A's bowlers, which included four byes and seven wides.

Pace bowler Mpeka was by far the Aces A cricketer who sought to frustrate Pak Stars A's chase with his two wickets in five overs, his efforts, however, ended in vain.

Medium pacer, Salum Jumbe, and Jatin Prajapati took one wicket apiece for Aces A, who consequently had their hopes of embarking on a successful campaign in a second successive showdown this season going up in smokes.