KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Karan KC’s bowling skill were in full display as he delivered a nail-biting last over of the match as Kushal Bhurtel and Mehboob Alam were stranded at the pitch six runs short of the total. Biratnagar Warriors made a comeback in the match from nowhere to win the match after Karan KC bowled excellent short-pitch deliveries in first final over finish of the tournament.
Karan KC had bowled good opening spell where picked all important wicket of Jaykishan Koslawala, the highest scorer of Lalitpur Patriots in last match. Pawan Sarraf made a well-timed fifty opening for the second time for Patriots in the tournament. Lalitpur looked comfortable chasing the target and was in good position at 15th over with seven wickets in hand and less than 50 runs to get in last five overs. However, things changed afte Pawan's wicket and Biratnagar made a comeback in the match.
Karan KC, Paras Khadka, Basant Regmi and Anshuman Rath picked up one wicket each for Biratnagar Warriors.
Earlier, Anil Sah’s blistering innings of 47 runs supported by Paras Khadka’s 38 and Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat’s quick-fire cameo of 34 propelled Biratnagar Warriors to highest total of the tournament so far. Lalitpur Patriots won the toss and elected to bowl first again following the suit from their victory in first match against Kathmandu Kings XI.
Hong Kong import Anshuman Rath opened the batting for Biratnagar Warriors scoring 14 runs in his first outing in Nepal. He was jpined by Babar Hayat after Aasif Sheikh was dismissed by Sudesh Bhati delivery caught excellently by Gyanendra Malla at slips. However, the fire was provided by Anil Sah who blasted three sixes and two fours before missing the half century by three runs. He was twice dropped by Lalitpur fielders as they struggled to control fielding woes thourghout the match conceding extra runs by wides and over throws.
Patriots bowler Sandeep Lamichhane was pick of the bowlers’ dismissing both the Hong Kong batsmen Anshuman Rath and Babar Hayat.
Bowlers held nerves to make Patriots the EPL champion
