Kathmandu, September 28

Skipper Paras Khadka scored a brilliant half century to guide Vishal Warriors to a seven-wicket victory over Jagadamba Rhinos in the rain-affected match of the Wai Wai Everest Premier League here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium today.

In the match reduced to 16-over-a-side due to rain, Warriors chased down the revised target of 114 runs with 15 balls to spare after skipper Khadka scored second consecutive half century. Rhinos had scored 110-6 in 16 overs before rain interrupted the match.

Player-of-the-match Khadka, who missed a chance to score maiden ton of the event just by one run against Sagarmatha Legends on Monday, blasted seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 56 off just 38 balls.

The national team skipper Khadka also shared a 85-run partnership for the third wicket with opener Sagar Pun, who scored 23 off 26 balls that included a boundary.

Opener Paresh Lohani scored eight-ball 13 with the help of three fours before being bowled by Rhinos skipper Shakti Gauchan in the third ball of second over. Shah Alam claimed two wickets for Rhinos giving away 23 runs in three overs spell.

Earlier, Rhinos batsman attacked Warriors bowlers from the beginning but they were reduced to 36-3 in 7.2 overs after Subendu Pandey (12), Mahesh Chhetri (10) and Hasim Ansari (nine) departed cheaply.

Amit Shrestha, who quick-fired 24-ball 39, shared a 64-run stand with Prem Tamang, who scored 26 off 30, for the fourth wicket to anchor the innings before being run out by Khadka in the 15th over. Shrestha hammered three sixes, while Tamang hit two fours.

Warriors’ Ramnaresh Giri pocketed three wickets, while Sushan Bhari and Dipesh Khatri claimed a wicket each. This is second win for Warriors. They had beaten Legends by 23 runs apart from sharing points with Kantipur Gurkhas.

In another match, Dipendra Singh Airee’s four-wicket blitz helped Panchakanya Tez beat Gurkhas by 34 runs to record their third win in a row.

Tez scored 128-8 in  20 overs after they were invited to bat first and restricted Gurkhas to 95-9. Gurkhas had a mediocre start with opening partnership of 22 runs between Pradeep Airee (12) and Subash Khakurel (13) but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals after Karan KC dismissed the latter in the fourth over.

And Dipendra Singh Airee’s four wickets, including that of skipper Basant Regmi (13), guided Tez to easy victory. Airee gave away only 21 runs in his four-over spell. KC picked up two wickets, while Bhuban Karki and Sushil Kandel took a wicket each.

Earlier, Tez made a disastrous start with the bat losing four wickets within two overs with only six runs on the board, thanks to Gurkhas’ Avinash Bohara, who took three wickets in the second over.

Bohara took crucial wickets of skipper Sharad Vesawkar (one), Prithu Baskota and Aarif Sheikh. Baskota and Sheikh got out for  ducks. Bohara also claimed Dipendra Singh Airee’s wicket

Nevertheless, opener Aasif Sheikh, who struck 18-ball 32, added 36 runs with Pushpa Thapa for the fifth wicket to check Gurkhas bowlers. Thapa remained not out on 38 off 43 with the help of three boundaries, while Aasif Sheikh hit four boundaries and two sixes.

Thapa then added 52 runs with Airee for the seventh wicket to lead Tez to a fighting total. Airee scored 22 off 34 balls.

Leaders Tez accumulated six points from three consecutive wins, while second-placed Warriors have five points in three matches. Gurkhas (three) are third, while Rhinos (two) and Colors X-Factors (two) are fourth and fifth. Sagarmatha Legends, who are out of the race, are yet to open their accounts.