By The Arusha News Correspondent
Arusha Cricket Club (ACC) registered their first win in the ongoing Ali Chomoko T20 League by defeating Kilimeru by six wickets at the St. Constantine ground last weekend. Both sides had earlier lost their opening games to TCA, making this encounter crucial for regaining momentum. Kilimeru won the toss on a sunny morning and elected to bat first, showing confidence in their line-up. The bowler was in fine form, delivering a tight maiden over that kept Haider on the back foot. Haider responded in the next over from Parimal with two boundaries but Karimu had the last laugh, clean-bowling him with a sharp delivery in his second over, leaving Kilimeru at 12 for 1. Liaqat Ali was promoted to No. 3 ahead of Imran Dhalla.
Despite Haider’s early dismissal, Ali Asgar counterattacked with three boundaries off Parimal. Karimu’s economical spell (4 runs and 1 wicket) ended as Prasad was introduced into the attack but Parimal continued to struggle, conceding 30 runs from his three overs. Kilimeru reached 48 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. Ali Asgar and Liaqat continued confidently, taking advantage of some missed chances — including dropped catches by Parimal and Manan — as Kilimeru advanced to 79 for 1 after 10 overs. The pair seemed poised to set a target near 200 before ACC struck back in the 14th over. Jaimin Bapu bowled Liaqat, ending a solid 80-run partnership, and Prasad took a superb one-handed catch to dismiss the big-hitting Imran Dhalla at deep mid-on. Jaimin then bowled Mujtaba in the same over to claim his third wicket. However, a quick cameo from Somji and an unbeaten 79 from Ali Asgar guided Kilimeru to 161 for 4 after 20 overs. Chasing 162, ACC needed a steady start.
Openers Jaimin Bapu and Shyam Soni provided just that, before Jaimin was bowled by Imran Dhalla in the fifth over with the score at 31 for 1 — 23 of those runs coming from Bapu’s bat. Sachin joined Soni and got off the mark with his trademark late cut. ACC ended the powerplay at 45 for 1, with Soni contributing six runs. Sajan dismissed Sachin for a brisk 10-ball 23 (five boundaries) in the ninth over, bringing Prasad to the crease. At the halfway mark, ACC were 69 for 2 at the timeout break. Post-timeout, Soni shifted gears, attacking both Sajan brothers for 17 runs apiece in the 11th and 12th overs as ACC crossed 100. Haider’s second spell was expensive, conceding 14 runs, with Soni bringing up his first half-century of the tournament. Liaqat and Imran Dhalla were also punished for 11 and 17 runs respectively as ACC raced to 145 for 2 after 15 overs — scoring 76 runs off 30 balls and putting Kilimeru on the back foot.
Hamja Sajan finally broke the 97-run stand between Soni and Prasad, and later picked up another consolation wicket. However, Prasad sealed the victory in style with a boundary through his favourite square-leg region, giving ACC a convincing six-wicket win. Meanwhile in the second match of the day, MCC batted first against TCA and posted 162 for 8 in their 20 overs. In reply, TCA managed 135 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs.
