THE 2025 Caravans Qualifiers have got underway with aplomb, as Gymkhana cricketers thrashed Patel Brotherhood A by 69 runs in Dar es Salaam last weekend.

Spirited batting by the top-order cricketers gave Gymkhana a momentous boost, as the side battles for a place in the tournament proper. The key performers' efforts were undoubtedly responsible for acquiring the side's respectable score.

 Arman Khan orchestrated Gymkhana's pursuit of an imposing total after they had the chance to start batting. Khan was the top run-getter for the club, blasting 43 runs, as Gymkhana ended up scoring 120/10 in 19.5 overs once their innings concluded.

 The performer, deployed at number three, took the crease once one of the openers, Amit Raghuvanshi, faced dismissal with 12 runs to his name. Khan exhibited his batting heroics and propelled Gymkhana to 104-4 in the 16th over, which witnessed the batsman face dismissal.

There were also meaningful figures garnered by fellow batsmen Harsheel Shah, Tanmay Das, and the other opener, Nikila Nishanga, as Gymkhana battled to wade off Patel Brotherhood A's attack.

 Shah showcased his experience in an overall solid innings having notched 23 runs at a strike rate of 92.00.Das and Nishanga ended up with 16 runs apiece for their club. The failure of Gymkhana's middle-order and low-order performers to hold their own against the Patel Brotherhood A bowling unit frustrated the pursuit of a bigger total

The middle and low-order cricketers made their way back in quick succession, leaving their team with a challenging assignment when it came to thwarting the opponents' chase. Pacer Khalidy Amiri put on an impressive display when Patel Brotherhood A fielded, claiming a five-wicket haul.

 Amiri, fresh from catapulting Tanzania's national U-19 squad to the 2026 U-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, gave away 19 runs in four overs for Patel Brotherhood A. Seasoned spinner Athuman Siwa put in yet more stellar bowling, grabbing 3-21 which had the cricketer secure a 5.48 economy rate.

Having been presented with an achievable target of 121 runs, the Vishal Patel-led Patel Brotherhood A disappointingly lost steam- ending up recording just 51/10 in 16.1 overs. Athumani Kakonzi and Issa Kikasi, seasoned performers, turned out to be the performers with encouraging figures in an overall woeful outing for Patel Brotherhood A.

 Kakonzi was the batsman with the most runs, scoring 15 runs at a strike rate of 88.24. Kikasi cracked solid shots for several overs, chipping in with 12 runs for his club. A batting collapse experienced from the middle order became Patel Brotherhood A's undoing, given the cricketers assigned could not prove their worth.

 Patel Brotherhood A was rattled right from the early stages of the chase, with cricketers assigned to open the innings exiting after a few knocks. Youthful Acrey Hugo was six runs short of two digits and Siwa left much earlier after he was dismissed for duck.

 Seasoned all-rounders Kikasi and Kakonzi battled to wrestle control with calculated knocks. Their efforts, however, ended in vain. Nishanga solidly led Gymkhana's bowling attack, grabbing 3-14, which had the cricketer securing a 3.50 economy rate.

Mohammed Yunus ended up with two wickets in four overs, and Abdulrazak Mohamed notched two wickets in three overs as the bowling squad stepped up. Even though Amiri could not help his club come out victorious the cricketer walked away with the Player of the Match gong, thanks to his stellar contribution when the club fielded.