Kathmandu, November 24:

Defending champions Indian Embassy defeated Nepal Investment Bank in the inaugural match of the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Super Sixes cricket tournament here at TU Stadium. Batting first Nepal Investment Bank scored 70 runs for the loss of two wickets in five overs. Bhola Bista retired after scoring 32 runs, while Prasidha Aryal remained unbeaten on 16. In reply, Indian Embassy overcame the target losing one wicket. Opener RK Bhatta (15) and Manjeet Singh (27) remained unbeaten. R Chauhan (13) was the only wicket to fall. In the second match, Kumari Bank defeated Kantipur Publications by three wickets. Batting first, Kantipur scored 60/4 and Kumari Bank reached 61/3 in the last over.

In other matches, hosts Soaltee Crowne Plaza defeated Golchha Organisation by five wickets; Standard Chartered Bank beat Surya Nepal by four wickets; Nepal Investment Bank thrashed Nabil Bank by six wickets; Kantipur Publications routed Bhotekoshi Hydro Power by 56 runs; Himalayan Bank outplayed NIC Bank by 30 runs; and Standard Chartered Bank overwhelmed United Finance by six wickets. After the league round, the top two teams each from all the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals. The Himalayan Times — drawn in Group A along with Indian Embassy, Nepal Investment Bank and Nabil Bank — will play all the three matches on Friday. Earlier, Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Keith Gardner, inaugurated the event.