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KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Chitwan Rhinos bagged the title of the Namaste Pokhara Premier League (PPL) defeating Biratnagar Titans by 32 runs.
In the final match of the second edition of PPL played at Pokhara Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Rhinos scored a total of 202 runs for the loss of five wickets after being invited by the toss-winning Titans to bat first.
Unbeatable Rhinos clinch PPL title
For Rhinos, Rohan Mustafa and Anil Kumar Sah scored a half-century each. Rohan’s 50 runs off 43 balls and Anil’s 34-ball 50 runs inspired the team to set a mammoth target of 203 runs. Karan KC hit unbeaten 26 runs off 8 deliveries, while skipper Paras Khadka added 25 off 11 balls.
Muhammad Zaid Alam and Puneet Mehra of Titans claimed two wickets each while Kishore Mahato sent a batsman to the pavilion.
Chasing the target, Biratnagar lost their first wicket at11 runs in the second over in the form of Sunil Dhamala . Lokesh Bam also returned too early to the pavilion scoring just a single. Although opener batsman Muhammad Zaid Alam scored 57 runs off 48 runs giving some hope for his team, Titans could score only 170 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Skipper Pradip Singh Airee and Puneet Mehra scored 36 and 32 runs respectively while Noman Khan scored 18 runs before he was run out by Aarif Sheikh.
Karan KC dismantled the Biratnagar line-up with his 3-wicket haul conceding 36 runs in four overs. Similarly, Sunny Patel and Rohan Mustafa claimed 2 and a wicket respectively.
The Titans had entered the finals beating Butwal Blasters by 21 in the Eliminator while unbeaten Rhinos had made it to the finals thrashing Kathmandu Golden Warriors by 60 runs.
