KATHMANDU, Dec 20: Punit Bisht’s 42 runs in 28 deliveries including six boundaries helped Gladiators win the match by seven wickets in the 17th over. The J&K Ranji player was supported by skipper Sharad Vesawkar’s patient 32 runs which they added 60 run together in a partnership at the middle.
Aasif Sheikh made a quick-fire unbeaten 23 runs to seal the match for Gladiators and secure some much needed net run rate if the table shapes out to that at the end of the group round.
Sompal Kami, Amar Singh Routela and Sushil Kandel picked up one wicket each for Kathmandu Kings XI but could not prevent Gladiators from winning the match.
Earlier, great catching by Bhairahawa Gladiators combined with good bowling effort by spinners has restricted Kathmandu Kings Xi for 118 runs in 20 overs. Dipesh Shrestha picked up two wickets in two deliveries in his last third and last over of the match dismissing Bikram Bhusal and Sagar Kumar.
Gladiators skipper Sharad Vesawkar picked up two wickets supported by Indian player Puneet Mehra’s one bowling in tandem conceding 40 runs in their combined eight overs.
Kathmandu Kings XI won the toss and elected to bat first. Amit Shrestha continued his run scoring streak in domestic cricket by adding another 29 runs to his name. Similarly, Sagar Kumar, Kings XI’s Indian recruit, supported helped adding to the total with 28 runs. Raju Rijal and Sagar Pun scored 15 and 22 runs respectively but struggled with strike rate.
Sharad Vesawkar was adjudged man of the match for his 32 runs and two wickets in the match.
Bhairahawa Gladiators signs Upul Tharanga
