TANZANIA's senior national men's cricket team suffered its second successive defeat in the 2025 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B second leg, losing to Bahrain by six wickets in Hong Kong on Monday.

It happened to be a tough day for Tanzania, also known as 'Warriors in Blue', when the team took on Bahrain at the Mission Road ground, Mong Kok, as disclosed by a Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) official.

Tanzania were bowled out for 139 runs in 41.2 overs despite a fighting 57 runs by Akhil Anil once Bahrain won the toss and elected to field.

Anil, one of the reliable cricketers for Tanzania lately, posted his half-century off 97 balls.

Imran Anwar of Bahrain led the Asian nation side's bowling attack after raking up 4/22 in eight overs.

The Ahmer Bin Nasir-led Bahrain chased the 140-run target, losing four wickets in 34.1 overs to secure a win by six wickets.

Sohail Ahmed's 57 runs not out off 87 was a standout showing for the batting squad.

Khalid Amiri ended with the best bowling showing for Tanzania after notching 3/52 in 8.1 overs.

The TCA official pointed out it was a disappointing result, but the senior national cricketers remain focused on bouncing back in the games ahead.

Bahrain's Anwar was adjudged the Player of the Match following his stellar haul of 4/22 in eight overs.

His compatriot, Muhammed Basil, made his List A debut for the squad.

Tanzania began the 2025 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B second leg embarrassingly, losing to Italy by eight wickets last weekend.

The losses have seen Tanzania languish at the bottom of the six-team tournament standing, having notched the −2.486 Net Run Rate.

The East African nation's squad has so far faced loss in six fixtures of the showpiece's two legs, with one tie being a no result.

The day further witnessed the other East African team, Uganda, thrash Singapore by eight wickets.

Singapore took the crease first - posting 243/9 in 50 overs. 

Needing 244 runs to come out victorious, Uganda comfortably amassed 245/2 in 40.4 overs.

One of the strong contenders for progression to the following phase of the qualifiers, Uganda is topping the 2025 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League B table, having posted the 2.267 Net Run Rate.

Italy (2.630 Net Run Rate), Hong Kong (0.253 Net Run Rate), and Bahrain (-0.330 Net Run Rate) sit second, third and fourth, respectively.

Fifth-placed Singapore has garnered the inferior Net Run Rate of -2.057 from seven losses and one tie being declared a no result.

The 2024–2026 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League is the second edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.

It is a cricket tournament which forms part of the 2027 Cricket World Cup qualification process.

The league features 12 teams - those finishing second to fourth in their respective league in the 2019–2022 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League, the top-four finishers from the 2024 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off, and two teams from the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.

That tournament saw Canada, winner of League A in the previous Challenge League, being promoted to League 2 status, while Papua New Guinea was relegated.

The other Challenge League winner, Jersey, was not successful in obtaining promotion.

The top two teams from both groups, A and B, will secure a spot at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

Each group is scheduled to play three times in a single round-robin tournament format, once each year from 2024 to 2026.