Pokhara, January 7
Biratnagar Super Kings and Kathmandu Knights earned the two remaining playoffs berths in the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.
The Super Kings defeated the Knights by seven wickets to claim third position in the table with 10 points from 10 matches, while the Knights (eight) finished fourth despite the loss. Pokhara Avengers had a chance to make it to playoffs after the Knights' loss but they failed to capitalise on the chance and instead faced a 41-run defeat at the hands of already eliminated Far West United.
The United finished fifth on better net run rate after being tied with the Avengers.
Lumbini All Stars, who topped the table with 16 points, and second-placed Janakpur Royals (14) had already earned berths in playoffs.
The All Stars will face the Royals in the first qualifier on Sunday, while the Super Kings and the Knights play the eliminator.
In the day's first match, the Knights posted 154-6 in their 20 overs before the Super Kings reached 160-3 with eight balls to spare riding on half centuries from skipper Rohit Paudel and Gauranshu Sharma. They set the tone with a 94-run partnership for the second wicket after Arjun Saud (10) fell cheaply.
Paudel top scored with 66 off 42 balls that included five boundaries and three sixes, while Sharma struck four boundaries in his unbeaten 49-ball 51. Hussain Talat contributed 12-ball 21 with the help of two fours and a six, while Bibek Yadav hit one each four and six in his two-ball 10 not out. Abinash Bohara took two wickets for the Knights.
Earlier, the Knights posted a fighting total riding on 34 runs each from Santosh Karki and Alex Blake. Opener Karki hit three boundaries and a six in his run-a-ball 34, while Blake hit two each fours and sixes in his 26-ball knock. Sandeep Rajali struck two fours and a six in his 24-ball 30, while skipper Gyanendra Malla hit two fours and a six in his 13- ball 22. Basir Ahamad remained unbeaten on eightball 17 that included one each four and six.
Raj Nannan was the pick of the Super Kings bowlers taking 4-13, while player-ofthe-match Rohit Paudel and Nandan Yadav bagged one wicket each.
In another match, the United posted 187-5 in 20 overs before packing the Avengers for 146 runs with 11 balls to spare. Openers Hashmatullah Shahidi and Binod Bhandari put up 134 runs in 15 overs and the United added 53 runs in the last five overs to post a challenging total.
Skipper Shahidi top scored with 51-ball 67 that included six fours and two sixes, while Bhandari 59 off 47 balls with the help of six boundaries and two sixes.
Rashid Khan (14), Milinda Siriwardana (12) and Karan KC (11 not out) chipped in valuable runs for the United.
Abhimanyu Mithun took two wickets for the Avengers, while Pratis GC bagged one.
In reply, GC hit five sixes in his 11-ball 34 and skipper Upul Tharanga scored 23- ball 36 with the help of five fours and a six but they failed to avert their defeat. Siddhant Lohani hit a four and two sixes in his 25-ball 38, while Sumit Maharjan (14) and Bishal Bikram KC (13) scored in double figures.
Durgesh Gupta was the pick of the United bowlers taking 3-29, while player-ofthe-match Hashmatullah Shahidi and Prakash Jaishi grabbed two wickets each and Karan KC bagged one.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
