DHANGADHI, April 7: Kathmandu Goldens has secured its playoffs berth in the ongoing second Dhangadhi Premier League (DPL) with a five-wicket win over Biratnagar Kings in the only match played on Friday. Kathmandu has won all the four games it played this season so far, and still has a match in hand.
Biratnagar won the toss and elected to bat first, giving Kathmandu a target of 165 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs in the match played at the Seti Zone Police Cricket Ground. In reply, the winning team chased the target as skipper Gyanendra Malla hit a six in the last ball of the final over to win the game.
Babar Hayat was again the talisman for Biratnagar as he scored 67 off 33 balls including seven sixes and three boundaries, while he was helped by the opener Dilip Nath, who hit 33 runs off 27 balls which included a six and four fours. Likewise, Prithu Baskota added 11 runs off four balls with a six and a four, while the other opener Anil Kumar Sah and Basant Regmi contributed 10 runs each. Also, Saurav Khanal hit nine, captain Paras Khadka got eight, Pawan Sarraf scored two, while Indian recruit Shubham Kamat and Manjeet Shrestha were out for ducks.
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Lalit Rajbanshi was the pick of the Kathmandu bowlers as he took three wickets giving away 18 runs in the four overs he bowled. Rashid Khan pocketed two wickets, while India’s Suboth Bhati claimed one.
Kathmandu was not convincing in the chase as openers Amit Shrestha and Bhati went back to the pavilion for five and 10 runs respectively. Malla hit the highest not out 68 runs off 40 balls including four sixes and five boundaries, while his prior batsman Bhupendra Thapa scored 36 off 28 balls which included two sixes and three boundaries. Likewise, Sunny Patel added not out 25 runs off 10 runs comprising three sixes and a boundary, while Pushpa Thapa contributed 24 runs off 17 balls with a six and two fours. Naresh Budayair was out for a duck.
Regmi picked up two wickets for Biratnagar giving away 27 runs in the four overs he bowled, while Khadka, Kamat and Shrestha nicked a wicket each.
With the win, Kathmandu stays at the top with eight points from four games, and will take on Mahendranagar United in its last game of the group stage on Sunday. Whereas, Biratnagar has four points from four games and will play CYC Attariya on Sunday as well.
On Saturday, CYC Attariya will vie against Mahendranagar United as the latter will be looking to book its place in the playoffs with a win, while Attariya will be playing for four points and stay on course for the playoffs. Mahendranagar has four points from three games.
Likewise, on the same day, Team Chauraha Dhangadhi will take on Rupandehi Challengers as the former will be hoping to get six points on board in the final match and still battle for the playoffs, while Rupandehi will try it’s best to get its first win of the season, despite having already failed to qualify for the playoffs.
