KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29
Bhairahawa Gladiators and Pokhara Rhinos registered victories in the Bajaj Pulsar Everest Premier League here at the TU Stadium today.
The Gladiators outplayed Biratnagar Warriors by six wickets, while Rhinos hammered defending champions Lalitpur Patriots by nine wickets. Both Warriors and Patriots faced their second straight defeats.
In the day's first match which was reduced to sevenover-a-side due to wet outfield, the Patriots posted 51-6 before the Rhinos reached 55-1 with three balls to spare.
Sandun Weerakkody top scored for the Patriots with 19 off 16 balls that included one each four and six, while Narayan Joshi (11) and Oshada Fernando (10) contributed in double figures. Playerof-the-match Nandan Yadav took 3-11 for the Rhinos, while Bikram Sob claimed 2-11 and Kesrick Williams pocketed one wicket.
In reply, opener Richard Levi remained unbeaten on 38 off just 22 balls hitting five fours and a six to guide the Rhinos to easy victory. Rit Gautam scored 12 off 14 balls before being bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai. After losing Gautam at 55-1, Levi and Sahan Arachchige (one) took the team home adding 16 runs for the unbroken second-wicket partnership.
In another match, the Warriors were bowled out for 89 runs in 17.4 overs before the Gladiators raced to 92-4 with 27 balls remaining. Upul Tharanga top scored for the Gladiators with 35-ball 34 not out that included four boundaries, while opener Pradeep Airee struck three fours in his 23-ball 22. Tamim Iqbal and Rohit Paudel contributed 12 each.
The Gladiators were reduced to 69-4 before Tharanga and skipper Sharad Vesawkar (six not out) took the team home adding 23 runs for the unbeaten fifth wicket stand. Ram Naresh Giri took 2-30 for the Warriors, while Karan KC and Basant Regmi claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Dilshan Munaweera top scored for the Warriors with 20-ball 25 hitting two fours and a six, while Sumit Maharjan (13) was the next best. Player-of-thematch Dhammika Prasad (3- 6) and Aarif Sheikh (3-23) share six wickets for the Gladiators, while Abinash Bohara claimed 2-23.
On Thursday, Kathmandu Kings XI will take on the Warriors, while Chitwan Tigers face the Gladiators.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 30 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
