KATHMANDU, JANUARY 6

Janakpur Royals and Biratnagar Super Kings recorded victories in the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.

The Royals defeated table toppers Lumbini All Stars by 23 runs to register their seventh victory in the tournament. In a match reduced to 17-over-aside, the Royals posted 159-6 before restricting the All Stars for 136-7.

Despite the loss, the All Stars finished at the top of the table with 16 points, while the Royals came second with 14.

Royals skipper Trevon Griffith played an 11-ball cameo hitting three boundaries and five sixes in his unbeaten 47 to help his side post a fighting total.

Griffith dominated the 48- run partnership for the unbroken seventh wicket with Rajesh Pulami (five). Earlier, openers Sharafuddin Ashraf and Khadak Bohora put up 51 runs.

Ashraf hit five boundaries and a six in his 18-ball 34, while Bohora contributed 22.

Samiullah Shinwari scored 11-ball 20 with the help of a four and two sixes, while Dilip Nath contributed 10. Sagar Dhakal and Kushal Bhurtel took two wickets each for the All Stars.

In reply, Anil Sah top scored for the All Stars with a quick fire 35 off 21 balls that included a four and three sixes, while opener Lahiru Milantha hit four boundaries and two sixes in his 18-ball 32. Sunil Dhamala scored 27 off 20 balls hitting a four and two sixes, while Gulshan Jha contributed run-aball 10. Player-of-the-match Griffith returned to take 3-30, while Shiwari grabbed 2-20.

In another match, Super Kings ended Far West United's playoffs hopes with a three-run victory. The Super Kings posted 147-6 in their 20 overs before restricting the United for 144-9.

The United needed six runs to win the match with three wickets in hand but Keon Joseph conceded two singles in the first four balls and the Super Kings ran Umair Ali and Durgesh Gupta in the next two deliveries to seal their victory.

Opener Hashmatullah Shahidi top scored for the United with 58 off 46 balls that included eight boundaries and a six, while Umair Ali was the next best scoring 12-ball 23 with the help of a four and two sixes.

Player-of-the-match Raj Nannan was the pick of the Super Kings bowlers taking 3-32, while Surya Tamang grabbed 2-15.

Earlier, the Super Kings recovered from 6-2 after skipper Rohit Paudel (21) and Hussain Talat added 66 runs for the third wicket. Talat hit five fours and two sixes in his 29-ball 50.

Bibek Yadav hit two each fours and sixes in his 20-ball 35. Arjun Saud contributed 22 with the help of three fours. Umair Ali took 2-15 for United.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 7, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.