Himalayan News Service

Dharan, March 29:

Yeti Airlines of Kathmandu go as favourite to win the first Darshan Memorial Running Cup Cricket Tournament when they face Pokhara Cricket Club in the final on Wednesday. Pokhara have never won any title so far, whereas Yeti Airlines have won more than seven titles since its establishment in 2002. “Defeating such a strong team is a very challenging job for us,” said Pokhara skipper Prakash Gurung. National team vice captain Shakti Gauchan has already reached Dharan to play for Pokhara Club, who also have other big names like Jagat Tamata, Basanta Regmi, Manoj Baisya and Dipesh Khatri, which would boost the club’s hopes of winning the first title.

Yeti Airlines, on the other hand, is also loaded with stars players like Mehboob Alam, Dipendra Chaudhari, Paresh Lohani, Paras Khadka, Manoj Katuwal, Raju Basnet, Kalam Ali, Sandeep Shrestha, Pawan Das and Prafulla Baidhya, who are either in the national team or have played for the national team in the past. In league matches, Yeti defeated Eastern Academy and Morang Cricket Club whereas Pokhara beat Janakpur in the league and then hosts in the semi-finals to the enter the final in their first appearence in any club-level tournament. In their earlier encounter in the Group B league match, Yeti Airlines defeated Pokhara by one wicket. Mehboob Alam could be dangerous in the final, as he has already registered a half century against Pokhara in league round and a century against Mahabir Youth Club of Janakpur in the semi-final to his credit. “A 200 plus score would be safe to win the tournament,” said Yeti Airlines’ Raju Basnet adding that the toss would be vital.