Kathmandu, January 1
Lumbini All Stars earned berth in the playoffs, while Kathmandu Knights registered victory in the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.
The All Stars defeated Biratnagar Super Kings by 12 runs for their sixth win in seven matches.
They accumulated 12 points to maintain their lead at the top of the six-team table.
The All Stars posted 122-9 in their allotted 20 overs before the Super Kings were packed for 110 runs with three balls to spare.
Electing to bat first, the All Stars had a disastrous start with openers Lahiru Milantha and Harmeet Singh losing their wickets with just fours runs on the board.
Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee fought the lonely battle and scored an unbeaten 50 off 42 balls hitting six boundaries. Kushal Bhurtel, Harry Tector and Anil Sah contributed 13 each.
Nandan Yadav, Surya Tamang and Bibek Yadav took two wickets each for the Super Kings, who squandered a chance created by their bowlers despite opener Arjun Saud scoring 41 off 45 balls with the help of four boundaries.
No 8 batsman Bibek Yadav was the next best scoring 19 off 10 balls that included a four and two sixes.
Tilak Bhandari, Harry Tector and Shadley van Schalkwyk grabbed two wickets each for the All Stars. Player-of-the-match Dipendra Singh Airee, Kishore Mahato and Harmeet Singh took one wicket apiece.
In another match, the Knights defeated Janakpur Royals by 90 runs. The Knights posted 180-6 in their allotted 20 overs before the Royals were packed for 90 runs with five balls remaining. With their third win, the Knights moved to third with six points, one place behind the Royals (eight).
Sunam Gautam and Ryan Burl scored half centuries to lead the Knights to big total and they added 84 runs for the fourth wicket.
Player-of-the-match Gautam top scored with 62 off 47 balls that included four each fours and sixes, while Burl hit four boundaries and three sixes in his 40-ball 61 not out.
Jitendra Mukhiya was the pick of the Royals bowlers taking 3-38.
In reply, Sharafuddin Ashraf scored 31-ball 37 hitting two fours and three sixes, while Sompal Kami contributed 21. Abinash Bohora grabbed 4-13 for Knights, while Azmatullah Omarzai took two wickets.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 2, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
