KARIM Kiseto staged a stellar batting showing as Lions C won the 2024 TCA Dar 20 Overs Cup - Division C trophy with an eight-run victory over Dar Indian Titans in the final which took place on Sunday.

The Mubin Hassan-led Lions C elected to bat after winning the toss and amassed 148/9 in the scheduled 20 overs of the duel which took place at the Leaders Club ground.

They enjoyed a promising start to the innings, as openers Dylan Manish (24 runs, three fours and a six) and Ashfaq Imtiyaz (12 runs) put solid knocks to show.

The batting side had secured 46 runs with two wickets taken when Manish made his way back after four overs, having been bowled by Dar Indian Titans' Ally Hafidh.

Kiseto - batting at number three- significantly boosted Lions C's score after cracking 41 runs.

It was by far the best batting figure when the squad took the crease. The promising cricketer nailed five boundaries in his 46-ball stint.

Kiseto had Lions C reaching 147 runs with six wickets taken when he was dismissed with four balls left.

Dar Indian Titans' Hafidh sought to frustrate Lions C's quest for a much better total as he claimed Hassan's wicket- dismissing the batsman for duck.

The dismissal nevertheless did not weaken Lions C's resolve as the outfit's middle-order batsmen stepped up their game.

Middle-order performer Augustine Mwamele had Lions C making their intention to amass a bigger score known with his 29 runs.

There were also notable contributions by Rehaan Atif (14 runs, one four) and Johnson David (10 runs not out, two fours) for the batting squad.

Lions C's cricketers were further boosted by 17 extras given away by the Dar Indian Titans' bowling unit.

The extras included four byes, two leg byes, and 11 wides.

Hafidh ended with a three-wicket haul as Dar Indian Titans fought to thwart an attempt by Lions C to end with a bigger total.

It was by far the best bowling figure when Dar Indian Titans fielded, with Hafidh leaking 23 runs in four overs.

Sanjay Dangi, Ravikant Sharma, and Kishan Chandran took a wicket each for Dar Indian Titans.

Chasing 149 runs to come out victorious, the C. Nehra-led Dar Indian Titans put on a spirited showing, but they lost steam, managing 140/8 in 20 overs.

They sought to recover after a shaky start, which saw skipper Nehra facing an early dismissal, having been bowled by Lions C's Rehaan.

Fellow opener Chandra sought to repel an early onslaught by Lions C's bowling- scoring 16 runs which included three fours.

Top-order batsman Emmanuel Laurent stepped up Dar Indian Titans' quest for a successful chase with his 70 runs- which included seven fours and a six.

Even though Laurent ended with the most impressive figures, his plan to bail Dar Indian Titans out, in the end, hit snag.

Hafidh (18 runs), Farhan Vohra (13 runs), and Sharma (10 runs) also ended with two digits in the fruitless chase.

Mwamele (3-27 in four overs) and Kiseto (3-13 in four overs) orchestrated Lions C's bowling attack which successfully kept Dar Indian Titans' cricketers in check.

They were ably assisted by Rehaan, who ended his fou-over stint with two wickets, leaking 29 runs, to dash Dar Indian Titans' hopes.

The final's Player of the Match prize went to Kiseto of Lions C, whereas the club's performer, Manish, clinched the tournament's Best Batsman prize.

Dar Indian Titans' Dangi walked away with the Best Bowler prize and MCC's Rohan Ghaussan laid his hands on the Player of the Series prize.

The TCA Chairman Balakrishna Sreekumar also attended the final and he was pleased to see so many national U-19 cricketers feature in the final. 

The visual was a promise that the future of Tanzania cricket is safe. 

He congratulated both teams for their efforts to progress to the final and making the Division C final extremely colourful, with the live streaming that was done on the cricket governing body's YouTube channel

Lions C sailed through to the showdown's final following the outfit's 10-run victory over Malabar Cricket Club (MCC) in the semi-final.

Dar Indian Titans booked a place in the final after garnering a 12-run defeat of Patel Titans in the other semi-final.