Attariya, Challengers win

Bhim Sarki of Rupandehi Challengers celebrates after taking a catch against Biratnagar Kings during their Ruslan Dhangadhi Premier League match on Tuesday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry / THT

Dhangadhi, February 12

CYC Attariya defeated Dhangadhi Stars by five runs in the low-scoring match, while Rupandehi Challengers beat Biratnagar Kings by five wickets in the Ruslan Dhangadhi Premier League at the proposed Fapla International Stadium today.

In the day’s first match, Attariya posted 95-5 in 20 overs before defending champions Stars were restricted to 90-9.

Attariya were heading towards a low total as they were reduced to 65-5 in 16 overs before Sunny Patel and Bhuwan Karki added 30 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket to take the team close to three-figure mark. Patel top scored with 28-ball 35 not out hitting two each four and sixes.

Opener Jaykishan Anilbhai Kolsawala struck one each four and six in his 26- ball 21, while Prem Tamang (12) and skipper Dipendra Singh Airee (11) were the other two batsmen to score in double figures.

Rohan Mustafa took 2-14 for Stars, while skipper Sompal Kami, Amir Hayat and Bipin Khatri claimed one wicket each.

In reply, the Stars failed to make the desired start and lost opener Sunil Dhamala and Amit Shrestha in successive deliveries from Sunny Patel with just 10 runs on the board. Rohan Mustafa and Sandeep Rajali added 29 runs for the third wicket before they lost two wickets in the space of one run to be 40-4 inside nine overs.

After the departure of Mustafa (18) and Pawan Sarraf (naught), skipper Sompal Kami (10), Rajali (11), Amir Hayat (four), Saurav Khanal (naught) and Robeen Chhetri (two) fell cheaply and they were reeling under pressure at 77-9 with seven balls remaining.

The Stars needed 17 runs from the final over bowled by Kamal Singh Airee with former U-19 skipper Raju Rijal and Bipin Khatri at the crease. And Rijal raised hopes hitting a four and six in the first and third balls respectively.

But Rijal failed to connect the fourth ball and managed two runs in the next. At a time when the team needed a six from the last ball, Rijal just ended up swinging the ball in vain. Rijal remained unbeaten on run-a-ball 26 that included one each four and six, while Khatri did not face the ball.

Bhuwan Karki was the chief destroyer and returned with the figures of 4-10 from four overs and he was ably supported by man-of-thematch Sunny Patel (2-17), while skipper Dipendra Singh Airee and Dipendra Rawat claimed one wicket each.

In another match, Rupandehi Challengers defeated Biratnagar Kings by five wickets. Batting first, the Kings scored 93-9 in 20 overs and the Challengers reached 95-5 with 41 balls to spare.

Asadullah Khan was the top scorer for Kings with 16 off 12 balls that included two sixes, while Rajesh Pulami Magar (17), Kushal Bhurtel (12) and Samsad Sheikh (10) scored in double figures.

Puneet Mehra took 3-20 for Challengers, while Lalit Singh Bhandari (2-15) and skipper Basant Regmi (2-14) claimed two wickets each.

Bhim Sarki, who is popular by the nick name of Jonty Rhodes in cricketing fraternity for his fielding abilities, stole the limelight when threw himself in the air to take a diving catch to dismiss Asadullah Khan off Krishna Karki.

In reply, Mehra returned to top score with a quick fire 46 off just 27 balls hitting two boundaries and four sixes, while Babar Hayat scored 17, Bhim Sarki (12) and skipper Regmi (eight) took the team home adding 14 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

Avinash Yadav took 2-16 for Kings, while Karan KC, Susan Bhari and Samsad Sheikh claimed one each.

With their second straight victory, Challengers lead the table with four points, while Attariya and Goldens have two points from one match each. The second successive defeat of Dhangadhi Stars meant they risk of being eliminated early.

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