Kathmandu, January 9
Biratnagar Super Kings thrashed Kathmandu Knights by 99 runs and advanced to the second qualifier of the NepalT20 Cricket League here at the TU Stadium today.
Batting first, the Super Kings posted 182-6 in their allotted 20 overs, while the depleted Knights were packed for a paltry 83 runs in 12.4 overs. The Super Kings will now face Janakpur Royals in their second chance to earn a place in the final. The Royals lost to Lumbini All Stars in the first qualifier on Sunday.
Skipper Rohit Paudel and Hussain Talat revived the Super Kings innings with 98-run partnership for the third wicket after openers Gauranshu
Sharma (one) and Arjun Saud (two) were dismissed with just five runs on the board. Playerof-the-match Paudel top scored with 61 off 49 balls that included six fours and two sixes, while Talat struck a boundary and three sixes in his 23- ball 38.
The Super Kings were reduced to 129-5 in 15.4 overs before Raj Nannan and Bibek Yadav led the team to a challenging total adding 53 runs from the last 26 balls. Yadav remained unbeaten on 46 off just 18 balls that included three each fours and sixes, while Nannan hit a four and six apiece in his 17-ball 23. Kamal Airee and Anil Kharel took two wickets each for the Knights, while Abinash Bohara and Gautam KC grabbed one apiece.
In reply, the Knights - who fielded all Nepali cricketers after foreign players returned home leaving them with just 11 players in the squad - were never in contention as the batters failed to build partnerships.
No 11 batsman Abinash Bohara was the top scorer with an unbeaten 16 off just four balls that included a four and two sixes. Skipper Gyanendra Malla (15), Lokesh Bam (13) and Kamal Airee (10) were the other batters who contributed in double figures.
Surya Tamang was the pick of the Super Kings bowlers taking 4-14 from 2.4 overs, while Koen Joseph (2-10) and Shahab Alam (2-21) shared four wickets between them.
Hussain Talat bagged one wicket.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
