THE most anticipated fixture of the 2025 Petrofuel TCA Caravans Cup lived up to its billing as tournament heavyweights, Alliance Caravans and Aurobindo Aga Khan SC, faced off in a match that was eagerly awaited by fans and neutrals alike.

In what was expected to be a tightly contested showdown, Alliance Caravans were, in the end, the cricketers who stole the spotlight.

The tournament defending champions produced a dominant all-round performance to win by a commanding 68-run margin at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club.

Having won the toss, Alliance Caravans elected to bat first and made their intentions clear from the outset.

Opener Amal Rajeevan was the rock of the innings, carrying his bat with an unbeaten 72 off 54 balls, timing his acceleration to perfection.

He was well supported by the explosive Akhil Anil, whose stroke-filled 54 off just 31 deliveries, including five towering sixes, gave the innings real impetus.

The duo’s partnership powered Alliance Caravans to an imposing 173 runs for three wickets in their 20 overs.

In reply, Aurobindo Aga Khan SC found themselves under immediate pressure from a relentless Alliance Caravans’ bowling unit.

While Abhik Patwa offered resistance with a brisk 41 off 31 balls, the rest of the batting order crumbled under the disciplined lines and lengths maintained by the Alliance Caravans' bowlers.

The star of the show with the ball was Yalinde Maurice, who delivered a devastating spell, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs, and bowling 16 dot balls in the process.

The youthful player was well supported by Karthik Nair, who picked up three wickets, as the Aurobindo Aga Khan SC cricketers were bundled out for 105 runs in 16.3 overs — well short of the target.

Maurice walked away with a well-deserved double honour — first receiving the Colourflex Dot Wizard Award for his extraordinary control.

The promising cricketer, moreover, was the Ras Logistics Player of the Match Award for his match-winning five-wicket haul.

Alliance Caravans' assistant skipper Anil, for his explosive batting display, earned the Pepsi Power Hitter Award.

The results not only reaffirmed Alliance Caravans' position as frontrunners in this year’s tournament but also sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.

Their dominance with both bat and ball was a testament to their depth, strategy, and form — and a reminder that the defending champions are not letting go of their crown without a fight.

As the Petrofuel TCA Caravans Cup enters its final stretch of group stage action, this clash of the weekend could very well be a preview of what awaits in the knockout rounds.

The Petrofuel TCA Caravans Cup, organized by Caravans Cricket Club, continues to draw fans and community engagement.

It highlights not only top-tier cricket but also strong values of sustainability and social impact. The tournament is supported by title sponsor Petrofuel (T) Limited and a strong consortium of partners.

In addition to Petrofuel as the title sponsor, the tournament is backed by an impressive line-up of supporters. Platinum sponsors include Alliance Insurance, ASAS, Automark, Ras Logistics, and Pepsi.

Franchise sponsors for other contenders in the eight-team event comprise Aurobindo, Park Mobile, Flashnet, Harab Motors, KX Intek, Jiuzhou, and Raah Holdings.

A strong network of supporting partners including Colourflex, Newland, Ashton Media, Ikomg, Rickshaw Travels, Tata, Flying Elephant, Flightlink, Garnet Star, Neelkanth Group, Samaki Samaki, Sterling Holidays, Strydol, Suhara, G1 Security, and Holtan Builders continues to propel the success of the tournament.