Kathmandu, December 26
Janakpur Royals registered their second straight win, while Far West United tasted victory in the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.
The Royals defeated Biratnagar Super Kings by five wickets. Batting first, the Super Kings were bowled out for 140 runs in 19.5 overs before the Royals reached 141- 5 in the last ball, thanks to Chadwick Walton, who mustered 16 runs in the final over bowled by Hussain Talat.
Biratnagar came close to their first victory but Walton ruined their hopes hitting two fours and a six before taking a double in the final ball to complete the victory. Walton and Mohammad Aadil Khan added 34 runs in the last 16 balls. Walton remained unbeaten on 69 off 55 balls that included five fours and four sixes, while Alam hit a six in his six-ball 10 not out.
Skipper Trevon Griffith scored 25 off 21 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six, while Sharafuddin Ashraf hit two fours in his 29- ball 23. Walton also dominated the 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ashraf. Talat, Nandan Yadav and Rijan Dhakal took one wicket each for Super Kings.
Earlier, the Super Kings were nicely placed at 113-3 in 13.3 overs but they squandered the chance and lost last seven wickets for 27 runs. Sikandar Raza scored a quick fire 38 off 18 balls hitting two fours and four sixes, while Rohit Paudel struck three fours and a six in his 29-ball 32. Hussain Talat contributed 21-ball 28 that included four boundaries.
Arjun Saud (18) and Bibek Yadav (10) also scored in double figures. Player-ofthe-match Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi completed five-wicket haul taking 5-8 from four overs that included a maiden over, while Mohammad Aadil Alam and Kesrick Williams grabbed two wickets each for the Royals. Sompal Kami also bagged a wicket.
In another match, the United beat Kathmandu Knights by four wickets. Batting first, the Knights posted 98-9 in their allotted 20 overs before the United reached 102-6 with five balls to spare.
Alex Blake top scored for the Knights with an unbeaten 46 off 37 balls that included five fours and a six, while skipper Gyanendra Malla (13) and Santosh Karki (12) were the only two other batters to score in double figures. Umair Ali was the pick of the United bowlers taking 3-15, while Bhuvan Karki and Hashmaullah Shahidi grabbed two wickets each.
In reply, player-of-thematch Shahidi led the team to victory with an unbeaten 50 off 49 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes, while Dev Khanal (17) and Bhim Sharki (11) chipped in valuable runs. Shahidi and Karan KC (eight) added 33 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket. Anil Kharel took two wickets for the Knights, while Azmatullah Omarzai, Ryan Burl, Basir Ahamad and Abinash Bohara grabbed one wicket each.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
