Narayangadh, January 16:

Esplanade Liberals Cricket Club (ELCC) of Mumbai defeated Cricket Association of Chitwan (CAC) XI by three wickets in the second match of the friendly cricket series here today.

Put into bat by the visitors, the home team scored 185/9 in the match that was reduced to 30-over-a-side due to unfavourable weather conditions. Opener Paresh Lohani and Dipendra Chaudhary scored half centuries for the hosts. Lohani scored a quick fire 68 off 62 balls hitting 11 fours.

Sambhu Sitaula (15) was the first to go after an opening stand of 83 runs with Lohani. Dipendra held the innings in the middle after Sharad Vesawkar, Raju Khadka and Raju Basnyat failed to reach the double figure mark. Chaudhary hit three fours and two sixes in his 53-ball 56.

For ELCC, Datta Mitbawkar took 3-16 off six overs, while former India ‘A’ player Hemant Tipnis claimed 2-27 in his three-over spell. Mangesh Darekar and Akshay Darekar pocketed one wicket each.

In reply, the ELCC had a slow start after Ishan Baniya broke the opening partnership at 16 on board. The visitors came under further pressure when Baniya took two wickets in the 12th over reducing them to 45/3.

But the seventh wicket partnership of 67 runs between Datta Mitbawkar (24) and Sanjay Srivastav (45) took the match away from the home team. They duo combined to score 53 runs in the five overs to guide the team to three-wicket victory. Baniya finished with 3-21, while Sharad Vesawkar and Raju Basnyat took one wicket each for CAC XI.

Coordinator of the friendly series and former cricketer Sudeep Piya and CAC president Kailash Pradhan gave away certificates and token of love to the teams. The ELCC, who were scheduled to play three matches, shortened their trip of Narayangadh and will leave for Pokhara on Wednesday, before visiting Kathmandu for other friendly matches.