KATHMANDU, January 4
Lumbini All Stars and Biratnagar Super Kings registered victories in the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.
The All Stars defeated the Kathmandu Knights by 102 runs for the eighth win and sealed a berth in the playoffs. In the match that was reduced to 17-over-a-side due to late arrival of the Knights team, the All Stars posted 183-6 before packing their opponents for a paltry 81 runs. The Knights reached the TU grounds at 8:50am, 20 minutes after the scheduled toss time.
All Stars made a flying start with openers Harmeet Singh and Lahiru Milantha putting up 98 runs in 10.3 overs before they were dismissed in the space of seven runs.
Singh dominated the partnership and scored a quick fire 70 off 36 balls that included two fours and eight sixes, while Milantha struck two boundaries and a six in his 29- ball 26.
Gulsan Jha hit a four and two sixes in his 11-ball 21, while Harry Tector contributed 17 off just eight balls that included two sixes. Kushal Bhurtel struck one each four and six in his 10-ball 15, while Anil Sah remained unbeaten on 16 off five balls that included two fours and a six. Abinash Bohara was the pick of the Knights bowlers taking 3-32 from four overs and Basir Ahamad grabbed 2-35 from two overs.
In reply, the Knights were never in contention after losing first four wickets with just 14 runs on the board. Basir Ahamad was the top scorer with 22, while Kamal Airee (16), skipper Gyanendra Malla (15) and Lokesh Bam (15) also contributed in double figures.
Harry Tector, Ishan Pandey and Kushal Bhurtel took two wickets each for the All Stars, while playerof-the-match Harmeet Singh, Kishore Mahato and Bipul Sharma grabbed one apiece.
In another match, Super Kings defeated Far West United by six wickets. Batting first, the United posted 156-9 before the Super Kings reached 158-4 with three balls remaining. Skipper Rohit Paudel top scored for the Super Kings with 42-ball 60 that included four boundaries and two sixes.
Pradeep Airee hit four fours and two sixes in his 26-ball 40, while Hussain Talat (17), Prithu Baskota (17 not out) and opener Guranshu Sharma (11) contributed in double figures. Karan KC, Prakash Jaishi, Noor Ahmad and Hashmatullah Shahidi bagged one wicket each for the United.
Earlier, Binod Bhandari scored 45 off 38 balls with the help of six boundaries and two sixes to help United post a fighting total. Skipper Shahidi struck two fours and a six in his 24-ball 27, while Karan KC remained unbeaten on 21 off 11 balls hitting a four and two sixes.
Shahab Alam was the pick of the Super Kings bowlers taking 3-43, while Keon Joseph grabbed 2-25. Raj Nannan, Bibek Yadav and player-of-the-match Rohit Paudel bagged one wicket each.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
