By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 24: Chitwan Rhinos registered 60-run victory over Kathmandu Goldens Warriors on Tuesday to remain unbeaten and enter the final of the Pokhara Premier League.
The runners up of the first edition Chitwan garnered a big total of 167 runs losing four wickets in 20 overs. Kathmandu, in reply, struggled to score 107 runs as they lost nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Chitwan remained at the top of the table with 10 points from five wins off five matches. Kathmandu are at the third position with four points off two wins and three losses. Kathmandu’s playoff spot hangs on the result of the match between Biratnagar Titans and Butwal Blasters. Provided Biratnagar register big margin win over Butwal Blasters, Kathmandu will be in playoff.
To make a poor start, Kathmandu lost their both of the openers Jayakrishan Kolsawal and Amit Shrestha for duck in second ball and 10th ball. Kathmandu, then lost Gaurav Tomar (6) in the 3.6 over while Skipper Gyanendra Malla put some resistance with his bat scoring 40 runs from 39 balls. Malla’s batting included three fours and two sixes.
For the fourth wicket Malla paired with Pawan Sarraf for 44-run stand. Sarraf hit four balls off to the rope and one maximum to collect 27 runs off 19 balls before being out in 9.4 overs. Kathmandu’s hope to win the match was vanished as Captain Malla fall victim to the ball off Bhuvan Karki as he was caught by his counterpart Paras Khadka.
Prithu Baskota returned to pavilion after being caught by Rohan Mustafa off Paras. Baskota added 18 runs from 23 balls. With the wickets of Dipesh Bhandari (2), Amar Routela and Basant Regmi Chitwan sealed their place in the final. Amrit Bhattaria was not out with six runs for Kathmandu.
Sunny Patel was the pick of the bowler with three wickets while Mustafa took two wickets. Karan KC, Bhuvan, Ramnaresh Giri and Paras each had one wicket apiece for the leader.
Earlier, Rohan Mustafa and Babar Hayat starred with their batting for Chitwan. Mustafa smashed 6 boundaries and one six to remain not out with 59 runs from 52 balls. Hayat chipped in highest with his quick fire of 47-ball 70. Three boundaries and six sixes were included in Hayat’s batting.
Following the dismissal of Opener Karan KC (1), Mustafa and Hayat partnered for third wicket to score 120-run stand. After Hayat fell for Basant Regmi’s ball, Aarif Sheikh (9-ball 15) and Sunny Patel (8-ball 15) contributed with double digit for Chitwan.
Sushan Bhari, Basant Regmi and Amar Routela dismissed one batsman each for Kathmandu.