KATHMANDU: Capital College and Research Centre (CCRC) thrashed hosts Kantipur City College 'Red' in the final of the Kist Bank sixth KCC Running Trophy Nationwide Inter-college Cricket Tournament here today.

Invited to take first strike after CCRC skipper Raj Shrestha won the toss at Tribhuvan University Stadium, KCC 'Red' struggled to 100-8 in their allotted 20 overs. Anil Mandal scored a fluent half century as CCRC overcame the target losing two wickets in 16.2 overs.

CCRC got off to a flying start with openers Pawan Das and Mandal scoring 86 runs in 13 overs before Das sacrificed his wicket for Mandal in a mix-up for a quick single. Pawan hit two fours in his 30-ball 26.

Man of the match Mandal then added 12 runs with Subash Pradhan for the second wicket before he was caught by Avinash Adhikari off Amit Alok (1-13) with just three runs required to win the match and the trophy. Mandal struck 10 boundaries in his 58-ball 62. Subash and Vijay Thapa then completed the formality, with the latter hitting the winning boundary. Both batsmen remained unbeaten on four runs.

Earlier, KCC 'Red' struggled once the hard hitting national team all-rounder Mehboob Alam got out in the fifth over. The opener hit one four and a six in his brief stay at the crease scoring 22 off 18 balls. After the fall of Shakti Gauchan, who scored run-a-ball seven, KCC lost other three wickets including Dipendra Chaudhary (1) for just five runs as the hosts came under tremendous pressure at 38-4 in eighth over.

Alam's strike partner Manoj Baishya and national team skipper Binod Das gave some respectability to the KCC total adding 33 runs for the fifth wicket before Baishya was stumped by Subash Pradhan off Vijay Thapa. Baishya scored 22 off 32 balls including three fours. Das struck a six in his 17 off 24 balls, while Dipen Lamgade scored 10 off 20 balls.

Vijay Thapa was the peak of the CCRC bowling with 3-12 in four overs, while Abhaya Rana took 2-30. Amrit Bhattarai, Raj Shrestha and Sanjam Regmi pocketed one each. CCRC also took two individual honours. Anil Mandal, who scored 173 runs off 141 balls at an average of 43.25, was named the man of the series award, while skipper Raj Shrestha, who took nine wickets, received the best bowler's award. Dipendra Chaudhary of KKC 'Red', who scored 148 runs at an average of 49.33, was named the best batsman of the tournament.

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Binay Raj Pandey, KCC Principal Prahlad Karki, KCC Chairman Suman Katuwal, Event Coordinator Anuj Raut Chhetri and Assistant General Manager of Kist Bank Bal Narsing Gharti among others gave away prizes to the winners. In all, 16 teams took part in the annual tournament organised by the Kantipur City College.