KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Goldens have recorded a five-wicket win over Mahendranagar United in the qualifier match of Ruslan Dhangadhi Premier League on Thursday and set up a summit clash with Dhangadhi Team Chauraha. The final between national cricket team Vice-captain Gyanendra Malla led Goldens and Sompal Kami's Chauraha will be played on Friday.

At SSP grounds, Goldens restricted United to 142-9 in 20 overs and reached the target losing five wickets in 18.2 overs. Man-of-the-match Sunny Patel's six wickets haul was crucial for Goldens to register an easy win over United in the second qualifier of the competition. United's openers Binod Bhandari and Aasif Sheikh were dismissed without making any run, in Patel's delivery. Indian recruit Patel, then sent Harishankar Sah, Punit Bista, Rohit Kumar Paudel and Bhuvan Karki to the pavilion. Sah, Paudel and Karki failed to add a single run while Bista made seven runs.

Puneet Mehra, Aarif Sheikh and Karan KC were three batsmen to reach double figures for United. Mehra top-scored with 42-ball 58, that included four sixes and four boundaries. Sheikh was United's second best scorer as he smashed 43 runs off 39 balls cracking four boundaries and one six. Likewise, KC added 21 runs made from 12 deliveries.

Besides Patel, Sushan Bhati and Puspa Thapa were two other bowlers to take wickets for Goldens. Both Bhati and Thapa added one wicket each for the finalist.

Goldens who was chasing the tricky target, made a solid start to the innings with the openers Amit Shrestha and Sushan Bhatri creating an impressive 76-run partnership for the first wicket. Shrestha scored 19-ball 26 which included five fours whereas Bhati smashed a half century. Bhati smashed 52 runs of 18 balls cracking five sixes and four boundaries. Likewise, Bhupendra Thapa and captain Malla contributed 15 and 25 runs respectively.

United's Puneet Mehra bagged two wickets whereas Bhuvan Karki, Punit Bista and Robeen Chhetri added one wicket each.