KATHMANDU: Naxal Challengers defeated Tip Top XI by 101 runs and Rising Nepal beat Kuleshwor Jerseys by 61 runs in the first Inter-Marwari Twenty20 Cricket Tournament here today.

At LAB School grounds, Naxal accumulated 189-8 before packing Tip Top for 88 in 17.4 overs. Amol Sharma scored a fluent half century, while Rahul Bansal and Harsh Kandol contributed 42 runs each for Naxal. Sharma struck seven fours and two sixes in his 41-ball knock, while Bansal hot two boundaries and four sixes to score 42 runs off just 16 deliveries. Kandol scored 42 off 34 balls including six fours.

Sumit Agrawal took 3-25 in three overs and Rshi Chomal claimed 3-39 off four overs for Tip Top. In reply, Chetan Joshi scored 32 off 38 balls hitting four boundaries for Tip Top. Ravi Sharma (13) was the other batsman to score in double figures. For Naxal, man of the match Amol Sharma took 4-9 in three overs and was well supported by Bishal Khetan, who took three wickets conceding just seven runs in 10 balls.

At Modern Indian School, Rising Nepal were bowled out for 137 runs in 19.3 overs and restricted Kuleshwor Jerseys for 76 runs in 13.3 overs. Man of the match Amit Verma scored 48-ball 44 hitting four boundaries and two sixes, while Punit Agrawal struck three fours and two sixes in his 8-ball 24. Amit Goenka scored run-a-ball 21 and Manesh Banthia remained unbeaten on 11 off nine balls.

For Kuleshwor, Jayant Agrawal took 3-30 in 3.3 overs and was ably supported by Bikash Luniya (2-20) and Sanjay Madhogaria (2-32). In reply, only two of the Kuleshwor batsmen — Deep Agrawal and Anil Maheshwori — scored in double figures contributing 11 runs each. Jitendra Kothari took 3-23, while Vikash Rathod and Punit Agrawal claimed two wickets each.

After the day’s matches, Naxal Challengers lead Group A with six points, while City Centre Challengers and Bishal Bazar Blasters have three each. With one round remaining, Tip Top XI are yet to earn points. In Group B, Kalimati Challengers are atop the standing with six points, followed by Kuleshwor (3) and Rising Nepal (3). Kathmandu Kings XI are yet to open their accounts.