KATHMANDU, Dec 25: Biratnagar Warriors survived a Siddhant Lohani cameo to finish the group stage unbeaten. Biratnagar won the match by 8 runs. They now have 10 points after winning all five matches of the EPL 2017. They are on top of the points table. Kings XI has an outside chance of making it to playoffs if Chitwan Tigers and Lalitpur Patriots both lose their matches respectively by some margins.
Lohani smashed two sixes on his way to 15 runs in nine deliveries as the equation came down to 11 runs required in three deliveries for a Kings XI win. Ram Naresh Giri, the Warriors’ bowler, then struck in his next delivery as Lohani mistimed a shot to long-on. Anil Sah completed the catch for Warriors.
Anshuman Rath, who took the bowling duties today, registered best bowling figures for Warriors in the match. He picked up three wickets including that of Maharoof and Naresh Budhayer supported by Basant Regmi and Ran Naresh Giri’s two wickets each.
Earlier, Hong Kong captain Babar Hayat smashed five fours and four sixes on his way to second fifty of the EPL 2017 to power Biratnagar Warriors to in 20 overs. Biratnagar has already qualified for the playoffs. Both teams are facing each other in their last game of the group stage.
Kathmandu Kings XI, with slim qualification chances hope, won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kings XI made two changes, Samsad Sheikh and Naresh Budhayer replaced Sushil Kandel and Raju Rija. Left-arm spinner Kandel is out of the tournament due to shoulder injury whereas Naresh kept wicket for King XI.
Similarly, Warriors made three changes in the team. Sumit Maharjan, Aakash Bista and Ram Naresh Giri replaced Sahan Adeesha, Pushpa Thapa and Avinash Karn.
Babar Hayat made 67 runs after Warriors lost the wicket of Aasif Sheikh to Jeetendra Mukhiya’s maiden-wicket first over of the innings. Babar shared the partnership of 72 runs with opener Anshuman Rath who made 32 runs that included four fours and a six.
Kings XI spearhead Sompal Kami scalped Babar Hayat and skipper Paras Khadka who played a cameo of 26 runs in 25 deliveries to restrict then to 150. Warriors were 81 for a wicket loss in the half way mark through the innings. Amar Singh Routela came back in last over of the innings to take two wickets in the last over after going for runs in his earlier spells. King XI skipper Farveez Maharoof and Jeetendra Mukhiya picked up a wicket each.
Match Summary
Biratnagar Warriors: 147/7 (20 Ov)
Babar Hayat 67 (50) 5 fours, 4 sixes
Anshuman Rath 32 (26) 4 fours, 1 six
Sompal Kami 4-0-33-2
Amar Singh Routela 4-0-37-2
Kathmandu Kings XI (Toss) 139/9 (20 Ov)
Farveez Maharoof 42 (37) 4 fours
Naresh Budhayer 30 (32) 4 fours
Anshuman Rath 4-0-19-3
Basant Regmi 4-0-17-2
Warriors won the match by 8 runs.
Man of the Match: Anshuman Rath
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