LIONS B cricketers have continued enjoying the driver's seat in the TCA DC League 1 Group B, cruising to a 35-run win over Pak Stars B at Dar es Salaam's Annadil Burhani venue recently.

It was the fourth successive victory that cricketers have secured in the league, placing them in the list of serious challengers for the title. Having been presented with the opportunity to take the crease first, the Atif Salim-led Lions B made full use of their batting depth- amassing 157/5 in the allotted 20 overs.

Impressive batting performances by Arif Raja, Augustine Mwamele, Rehaan Atif, and Dylan Manish played an important role in Lions B's acquisition of the imposing score. Raja ended up being three runs short of a half-century in what turned out to be the best outing when the squad took the crease, as Mwamele scored 29 runs, Rehaan ended up with 21 runs not out, and  Manish contributed 27 runs. 

The opener Karim Kiseto also made his way back with a two-digit figure, having scored 11 runs in a relatively less convincing batting time for the promising player. Raja helped Lions B reach triple-digit figures, in which the squad moved to 134-5 upon the cricketer's exit from the crease after 17.1 overs.

Rehaan forged a solid sixth-wicket stand with Safvan Annarathodika, who ended up with seven runs not out, seeing to it that the Lions B cricketers set up a challenging target for Pak Stars B.

Humayun Taj and Wahid Hussain notched two wickets apiece in a valiant effort by Pak Stars B to ensure they wound up their innings with a modest figure. Taj had the most noticeable figures, having taken 2-18, and Hussain chipped in with 2-33, albeit the cricketer finished with the most expensive overs when Pak Stars B fielded.

Chasing a seemingly tricky score of 158 runs to secure a victory, the Muzamil Hussain-led Pak Stars B batted spiritedly, only to end up falling short, having posted 122/10 in 18.2 overs.

The opener, Dharminder Singh, was eight runs short of a half-century in what was so far the most significant effort when Pak Stars B took the crease. The cricketer secured his impressive figure at a strike rate of 120.00, helping Pak Stars B move to 102-5 when he left the crease in the 12th over.

Even though Singh's fellow opener, Hussain (18 runs), top-order player Taj (14 runs), and Zahid Naveed (15 runs) battled to improve their team's run rate, their efforts could not bail the squad out.

In-form youngster, Darpan, led Lions B's bowling attack, which weakened Pak Stars B's batting resoluteness, after hauling 4-10 in his three-over quota. He was efficiently joined by Kinshuk Bhati in keeping Pak Stars B in check. Bhati contributed 2-21 in his four overs.

Lions B cricketers have, as a result, recorded the 3.3635 Net Run Rate to continue topping Group B, courtesy of winning all four fixtures they have taken part in.