By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Kathmandu Knights and Lumbini All Stars found a winning start to the Nepal T20 League that kicked off today at TU Cricket Ground.
Kathmandu Knights registered 26 runs victory over Pokhara Avengers in an inaugural match. Moreover, Lumbini All Stars defeated Far West United by 67 runs in the day’s second match.
Azmatullah led Kathmandu to victory
Invited to bat, Kathmandu Knights scored 162/5 in the scheduled 19 overs. The continuous fall of wickets threatened the franchise representing the capital. However, the 114 runs partnership between Sunam Gautam and Azmatullah Omarzai after the 8.4 over helped Kathmandu regain momentum.
Santosh Karki and Virandeep Singh, who opened the innings, left the crease early collecting 3 and 10 runs respectively. With Alex Blake and Lokesh Bam getting bowled by Zahir Khan for 21 and 4 runs, Kathmandu’s skipper Gyanendra Malla returned to the dugout following a duck out. Pokhara’s pacer Pratish GC bowled Gyanendra in 1.5 overs, claiming his second wicket of a single over.
Sunam remained 127 not out. Moreover, Azmatullah Omarzai played a half-century inning, bagging 85 runs off 42 deliveries with 3 fours and 7 sixes. The Afghani was later adjudged Player of the Match.
With, Pokhara’s Pratish and Zahir claiming 2 wickets each, Mousom Dhakal booked a piece in his name.
In return, Pokhara Avengers failed to chase the winning target of 163 runs. It cost Pokhara 7 wickets to collect 136 runs in the prescribed 19 overs.
The overseas player Upul Tharanga collected the highest of 44 runs with 6 fours for Pokhara. Other batsmen didn’t perform up to the mark.
With Opener Aasif Sheikh getting dismissed for 5 runs, Ameer Hamza (18), Aarif Sheikh (20), Kushal Malla (5), Abhimanyu Mithun (18), and Siddhant Lohani returned to the dugout bagging 13 runs.
Skipper Sharad Vesawkar (6) and Pratish GC (3) remained unbeaten. With Kathmandu’s Abinash Bohara booking 3 wickets, Basir Ahamad claimed 2, and Anil Kharel took 1 wicket.
Lumbini records comfortable victory over Far West
Lahiru Milantha’s half-century inning helped Lumbini to acquire a victory over Far West. The Sri Lankan Wicketkeeper Batsman scored 60 runs off 50 deliveries with 8 fours and a six before getting caught in the 16.6 overs.
Unmukt Chand, who lead India Under-19 to victory in the 2012 World Cup had a day to forget. Facing 7 balls, Unmukt left the crease with 2 runs in pocket. Nepal’s former opener and current middle order batsman Kushal Bhurtel once again continued his awful form. Bhurtel gifted a catch to Kushal Malla off Umair Ali’s delivery in the 4.2 over, collecting 7 runs.
While Lumbini’s Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee added 35 runs to the tally off 38 deliveries with 2 fours and a six, Bipul Sharma (12), and Gulsan Jha contributed 25 runs.
With Anil Shah leaving the crease following a duck out, Yogendra Singh Karki remained not out for 1 run.
Far West’s pacer Karan KC and Umair Ali claimed 3 wickets each.
Later, Far West United failed to chase the winning target of 153 runs as they got all out for 85 runs in 16.2 overs. Far West’s skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored the highest of 35 runs off 44 balls including 2 fours for his side. Moreover, Binod Bhandari scored 13 runs off 11 with 1 sixer. No other batsmen scored in double figures.
Dev Khanal (9), Harishankar Shah (0), Bhm Sharki (3), Basant Karki (2), Rashid Khan (1), Umar Ali (4), Karan Kc (1), Sher Malla (1), and Bhuvan Karki * collected 4 runs for the Far West.
Lumbini’s spinner Dipendra Singh Airee claimed 3 wickets whereas Sagar Dhakal booked 2. Furthermore, Pat Brown, Kishore Mahato, and Bipul Sharma took apiece.