ESTIM A's cricketers have suffered their first loss in the 2024 Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) Dar 30 Overs Cup's Division B, losing to Shree Kutchi Leva Patel Sports Center (SKLPSC) A by 28 runs recently.

In the thrilling match played at Leaders Club venue in Dar es Salaam, the Group A leader failed to tame the determined SKLPSC A despite the former maintaining their stronghold at the top of the showdown's group.

Having won the toss and decided to start batting, SKLPSC A went on to post 176/6 in the allotted 30 overs, with top-order batsmen, Naran Vekariya, Dinesh Rabadiya, and Rizwan Muhammad playing a pivotal role in assuring the batting squad of ending with an impressive total.

The opening batsman Rizwan got his squad's innings off to a good start after posting 22 runs and then made his way back after he was caught by Estim A's Bharat Lalji Vekariyan from skipper Ashvin Pindoria's delivery.

The fellow opener Rabadiya stepped up the batting side's quest for an imposing figure having blasted 65 runs that included three fours and a sixer.

There was a brief drawback following an early dismissal of another top-order performer, Vikeshkumar P Kerai, who returned with a run to his name having been bowled by Estim A's Pindoria after 22.5 overs.

The SKLPSC A's cricketers, however, were still in control of the innings, in which Vekariya showcased his batting tenacity with his 55 runs. 

In his 67-ball innings, the SKLPSC A skipper cleared the boundary four times, blasting three fours and one six.

Efforts by SKLPSC A to end with a much bigger score ended in vain, given the middle and low-order performers could not stay longer at the crease.

Top-order performer Sailesh Bhimji Varsani was two runs short of a two-digit figure, as he was dismissed by  Pindoria who was in great form when Estim A fielded.

Anil Pindoriya ended five runs short of a two-digit figure in an equally short stint, whereas Arjan Rabadiya and  Vital Lalji Vekariya returned with bat in hand, much as they could not put meaningful contributions.

The SKLPSC A's total was moreover boosted by 19 extras given away by Estim A's bowling unit, in which it conceded one bye, two leg byes, 14 wides, and two no-balls.

Pindoria had the best bowling displays when Estim A fielded, in which the cricketer notched 4-31 in six overs. The fellow bowlers Mukesh Vadodariya and Bhavik Bhudia took one wicket apiece.

Chasing 177 runs to come out with a win happened to be a tall order for Estim A's cricketers, they ended up recording 148/9 in the scheduled 30 overs.

Skipper Pindoria, who was assigned as the opener, vainly battled to have Estim A getting down to a fruitful chase, ending one run short of a half-century whilst posting five fours.

SKLPSC A's bowling members were eager to frustrate Estim A's efforts early on, dismissing the fellow opening batsman Bhimji Vekariya with the latter notching a mere four runs.

Top-order cricketer Faraj Athumani had Estim A seeking to stay in control when he notched 20 runs in his 39-ball stint.

Bharat Lalji Vekariya made his way back with 10 runs for the outfit and SKLPSC A then attempted to put pressure on the former with the dismissals of two other top-order performers- Mahendra Kerai and Kishor Dhanji Pindoria.

Nirav Hirani (14 runs), Mukesh Vadodariya (11 runs), and Arvind Rabadiya (12 runs not out) had Estim A showcasing a fightback with two-digit figures, but their efforts could unfortunately not help their outfit avoid defeat.

Eighteen extra runs conceded by SKLPSC A's bowling unit, which consisted of four byes, two leg byes, and 12 wides had Estim A ultimately ending with a respectable total.

Sailesh Bhimji Varsani (2-21 in five overs) and Arjan Rabadiya (2-25 in three overs) were the cricketers who led SKLPSC A's efforts to successfully thwart Estim A's chase.

Meanwhile, Estim B's cricketers continued their impressive winning streak in TCA Dar 30 Overs Cup Division B1 by triumphing over SKLPSC B.

Estim B took the crease first- notching 139/10 in 29 overs of the allotted 30 overs- and, in reply, SKLPSC B could not attain the 140-run target, managing to notch 63/10 in 17.4 overs.  

In another close encounter of the division, Caravans C emerged victorious against Unisoft Rising Stars, showcasing the intense competition in both divisions.