KATHMANDU, Jan 16: Sudur Paschim Academy (SPA) and New Horizon Cricket Club advanced to the semifinals of the Second Ruslan Cup T20 cricket tournament on Sunday played at the TU cricket grounds, Kirtipur.
A 62-run knock from skipper Rajveer Singh gave Dhangadhi-based SPA a comfortable 46 runs win over host Ruslan KCTC. In another match, New Horizon of Butwal recorded a narrow eight-run win over Nepali Rhinos.
Rajveer cracked 62 runs off 43 balls for SPA in its challenging total of 160/5 and restricted KCTC at 114/9 at the close.
The man-of-the-match Rajveer cracked four fences and reached 50-run mark facing 39 deliveries before being bowled by Sumit Jha. Sandeep Dhami (33 runs off 28 balls), Dipendra Thapa (21 runs off 29 runs) and opener Roman Bam (17 runs 16 balls) were the other remarkable run scorers for SPA.
Sumit Jha and Surya Lama of KCTC claimed two wickets each.
KCTC made a shaky start in its run chase, though opener Sumit Maharjan contributed 41 runs before being trapped leg before by Amit Poudel. He hit five fences in his 38-ball knock.
Sumit Jha (14 runs), Sanjay Basnet (11 runs) and Dilip Yadav (not out 11 runs) were the only other players to reach double digit mark for KCTC.
Binod Lama of SPA was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets under his belt while Mahesh Adhikari and Amit Poudel claimed two wickets each.
In the day's kick off match, New Horizon was bowled out for a low total of 104 runs with five balls to spare. However, it managed to restrict Nepali Rhinos at 96/9 at close after Krishna Karki managed to remove three batsmen.
Opener Nirmal Thapa's 30 runs and tailender Bikram Bhusal's 27 runs turned crucial for New Horizon innings. Nirml hit four boundaries facing 34 balls before he was trapped leg before by Pawan Sarraf. Bikram quickfired two sixes and a four in his knock off 19 balls. Sushan Bhari and Ganesh Goudel also contributed equal 10 runs each.
Sharad Veswakar and Sushil Kandel of Nepali Rhinos grabbed three wickets each.
Nepali Rhinos' run chase got a poor start as it lost seven wickets with just 29 runs on board. Tailender Pawan Sarraf (14 runs 28 balls) and Sonu Tamang (27 runs 24 balls) and Shiva Tandukar (unbeaten 19 runs 16 balls) were the only batsmen to reach double digit figure.
New Horizon bowler Krishna came up with phenomenal bowling figure. The man-of-the-match claimed three wickets at the expense of nine runs in his four overs spell with two maiden overs. Shahab Alam and Bikram Bhusal grabbed two wickets apiece.
On Monday, New Horizon will lock horns with Nepal Police Club and SPA will meet Tribhuvan Army Club in the semifinal clashes.
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