KATHMANDU: Mahendranagar United and Biratnagar Kings registered victories in the ongoing Ruslan Dhangadhi Premier League Twenty20 Cricket Tournament, on Thursday. United recorded a four-wicket win over Rupandehi Challengers while Kings overcame Team Dhangadhi Chauraha by 18 runs at the SSP grounds in Dhangadhi.

In the day's second match, Challengers, who chose to bat first after winning the toss, posted 144 runs at the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. United reached the target losing six wickets in 18.5 overs.

Earlier in the first match of the day, put into bat first after losing the toss, national cricket team captain Paras Khadka led Kings made a total of 137 in 19.5 overs and restricted Chauraha to 109 in 20 overs.

With wins recorded on the sixth day of the tournament, both United and Kings have four points accumulated from three matches and are placed in the second and third spots respectively.  Although Chauraha also have totaled in four points so far, the positions of the three teams is separated by run-rate.

Meanwhile, it was fourth straight defeat for Challengers who have hit the rock bottom in the points table in the six-team contest.

Punit Bista's all-round performance was crucial in United's win over Challengers. Man-of-the-match Bista smashed 45 runs and took four wickets for United.

Challengers failed to make a desired start to the innings as the openers Sonu Ansari and Pradeep Airee created only 11-run partnership for the first wicket. Ansari was dismissed for two runs while Airee made 32-ball 39 which included five boundaries and one six. Sagar Pun was Challengers' next best scorer as he added 28 runs, hitting three sixes and one four. Kushal Malla (15) and Dipak Prasad (17) were two other notable contributors for veteran Shakti Gauchan led Challengers.

Bhuvan Karki, Puneet Mehra, Avinash Karn and Karan KC were other bowlers to bag wickets for United.

United skipper Binod Bhandari smashed a half-century as he chipped in 61 runs off 48 deliveries which included five boundaries and two sixes. Likewise, Bista who came to bat fourth, cracked four sixes and three fours. Puneet Mehra and Rohit Kumar Poudel who remained not out contributed 16 and seven runs respectively.

Dipesh Shrestha claimed three and Sushan Bhari picked two wickets while Sagar Pun added another for Challengers.

In the first match of the day, Kings failed to make a desired start to the innings as their openers Dilip Nath and Anil Kumar Sah built a weak 10-run partnership for the first wicket. Nath was dismissed for four runs while Sah contributed 24 runs.

Kings then lost their key batsman Babar Hayat for 15 runs while other middle-order batsmen including Prithu Baskota (3) and Paras Khadka (2) retired early. However, Nepal U-19 batsman Pawan Sarraf tried to rescue his team's innings smashing 41 off 34 balls which included two sixes and one boundary. Indian recruit Subham Kamat was Kings' next best scorer as he hit 18 runs from 11 deliveries.

Sunil Dhamala was the pick from the Chauraha bowlers as he took 4-10, supported by skipper Sompal Kami and Rohan Mustafa as they added two wickets each. Likewise, Lalit Bhandari and Samsad Sheikh claimed one wicket each.

Chasing the tricky target, Chauraha made a positive start to the innings with the openers Ashfaq Ahmed and Sunil Dhamala gathering 36 runs in 5.3 overs. United Arab Emirates batsman Ahmed scored 22 runs off 16 balls, hitting two sixes and one boundary whereas Dhamala contributed 19-ball 12.

However, losing Rohan Mustafa (11) and Rajesh Pulami Magar (8) before they could make any significant contribution put Chauraha under pressure. The batsman at number four, Shankar Rana tried to rescue the innings chipping 25 runs facing 38 deliveries and Raju Rijal (18) was another notable contributor. The rest of the batsmen, however, failed to add significant runs, incapacitating Chauraha to meet the modest target.

Pawan Sarraf bagged four wickets for the wining side while skipper Paras Khadka and Basant Regmi claimed two wickets each. Likewise, Indian bowler Shubham Kamat added one wicket to the Kings' bowling account.