KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Goldens and Biratnagar Kings emerged victorious in the Ruslan Dhangadhi Premier League Twenty20 Cricket Tournament, on Wednesday.

At SSP grounds, national team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla led Goldens defeated CYC Attariya by 11 runs whereas national team captain Paras Khadka's Kings recorded 42-run win over Rupandehi Challengers.

With the third straight win, Goldens have tightened their grip to first position with six points where as with the first win of the competition Kings are in fifth place with two points accumulated from two matches.

In the day's second match, put into bat first after winning the toss, Kathmandu Goldens scored a total of 137-9 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Attariya managed to reach 126-8 only in 20 overs.

Goldens made a poor start to the innings as they lost their openers Amit Shrestha (6) and Suboth Bhati (7) cheaply. However, Captain Gyanendra Malla who came to bat at third number tried to rescue the innings smashing 57 runs off 43 balls hitting three sixes and four boundaries. Naresh Budayair was Goldens' next best scorer as he contributed 27 runs while Rashaid Khan added 16 runs.

Shuvankar Urao was the pick of the Attariya bowlers claiming 3-19 and he was supported by Krishna Karki and Vipin Chandra who added two wickets each. Likewise, Dipendra Singh Airee and Kamal Singh Airee bagged one wicket each.

Chasing the modest target, Attariya's openers Kushal Bhurtel (8) and Prem Tamang (4) failed to make a positive start to the innings. Third numbered batsman Gaurav Chitkara then tried to lay the foundation scoring 36 runs off 26 balls, which included four sixes and one four. Vipin Chandra was Attariya's second best scorer as he made 26 runs facing 24 balls while Shuvankar Urao (12) was another notable contributor.

Player-of-the-match Suboth Bhati was pick of the Goldens bowlers as Indian bowler took impressive 3-10 and he was supported by Sunny Patel and Rashaid Khan who claimed two wickets each. Likewise, Nepal U-19 bowler Shahab Alam added on wicket for the team captained by the senior team vice-captain.

BIRATNAGAR KINGS RECORDED FIRST WIN

In the day's second clash, Kings were invited to bat first after losing the toss and made a total of 181-4 in their allotted 20 overs with the help of a half-century from Hong Kong international Babar Hayat. In reply, Shakti Gauchan led Challengers managed to reach 139 runs only losing seven wickets in 20 overs. It was the third striaght defeat for Challengers who had faced defeats to CYC Attariya and Kathmandu Goldens in first two matches.

Hayat who came to bat at third number chipped in 58 runs facing 35 balls. Player-of-the-match Hayat cracked four sixes and four boundaries. Earlier, Kings had made a desired start to the innings with their openers Dilip Nath and Anil Kumar Sah scoring 43 and 36 runs rspectively. Nath's 37-ball 43 included one six and six fours while Sah hit three sixes and three fours in his 25-ball 36. Likewise, captain Khadka contributed 22 runs whereas Saurav Khanal added not-out 17 runs.

Challengers' Omanese bowler Sufyan Mehmood bagged two wickets while Jitendra Mukhiya and Sagar Pun added one wicket each.

Meanwhile, Kings' Indian recruit Subham Kamat took crucial 3-18 while Ramnaresh Giri claimed two wickets. Likewise, skipper Khadka added another wicket for the wining side. Pradeep Airee top-scored with 54 runs for Challengers before getting dismissed in Kamat's delivery while Dipak Prasad (22) was their next best scorer. Sushan Bhari and Shakti Gauchan who remained unbeaten, contributed 21 and 14 runs respectively for Rupandehi-based outfit.