JEREMIAH John starred with the bat and catapulted King Boys to a 65-run victory over Union Friends in the 2025 Gairo Men's League clash in Morogoro last week.

Cricketers deployed at the top of the batting order fully exploited their chances, guiding King Boys to a mammoth 217/4 in 30 overs once they took the crease first.

John, assigned as an opener, led the search for an imposing total with his 81 runs garnered at a strike rate of 122.73.

The team skipper was, at the end of it all, the cricketer with the best figures when King Boys took the crease in the Group A tie.

John solidly put up a worthy effort with the other opener, Zakia Ally, as the latter boasted 33 runs at a strike rate of 113.79.

The skipper had King Boys comfortably reaching 159-3 upon his dismissal in the 18th over, seeing that they posed a challenging task for Union Friends.

Other notable efforts at the crease were put in by other top-order cricketers Erick Frank and Agustino Ndabasho.

Frank scored 24 runs not out at a strike rate of 53.33 and Ndabasho garnered 21 runs at a strike rate of 72.41.

Union Friends further gave away 47 extras which significantly supported King Boys' efforts to amass a better total.

Needing 218 runs to come out victorious, Union Friends put up a spirited showing, only to fall short having scored 152/10 in 18.2 overs.

Spirited efforts by top-order batsmen Amos John and skipper Arafat Abdul were the displays worth noting during Union Friends' unsuccessful chase.

John was the top run-getter for the club, blasting 69 runs consisting of nine fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 153.33.

Abdul ended up four runs short of a half-century at a strike rate of 135.29.

John's efforts had Union Friends moving to 151-5 once he left the crease after 15.4 overs.

There was little to write home about, as far as the displays by the rest of the Union Friends cricketers were concerned, given that they gave wickets away cheaply.

King Boys' bowling unit's 31 extras conceded somewhat helped Union Friends wind up with the triple-digit figure.

Steven Michael solidly led the eventual winners' bowling charge with his 5-20, ensuring Union Friends' efforts ended in vain.

There was a further worthy effort put in by other bowlers, John and Frank, as the duo ended up with two wickets in their respective quotas.

John grabbed 2-20, concluding with a 5.00 economy rate. Frank garnered 2-22.

Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA) is taking charge of the Gairo Men's League, aiming to step up efforts to raise the standards of domestic cricket.

The six-team league has the participating cricketers grouped into A and B, battling it out in 30-over clashes.

Group A outfits are Titans Boys, Union Friends, and King Boys, whereas King Lions, Hunter Boys, and Buffalo Boys have been placed in Group B.