Narayani beat Bagmati in super over

CHITWAN, DECEMBER 12

Karan KC hammered Sompal Kami for four sixes in the Super Over to lead Narayani to victory over Bagmati in the inaugural match of the Gautam Buddha Cup here today.

Narayani amassed 25-0 in the Super Over riding on KC’s solid display with the bat that included three straight sixes in the first three balls before Bagmati managed 20-0 despite Gyanendra Malla’s three sixes of KC. The match was decided in the one-over eliminator after both the teams were tied at 117 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Invited to bat first at the under-construction Gautam Buddha International Stadium, Bagmati were reeling at 50-7 in 11 overs before Bikram Sob and Rashid Khan added 59 runs for the eighth wicket to take the team total past three figures. Sob remained unbeaten on 37 off 31 balls that included two fours and three sixes, while Khan scored 22-ball 27 with the help of a four and two sixes. Opener Sunil Dhamala — who scored 37 off 32 balls hitting three boundaries and two sixes — was the only other Bagmati batsman to score in double figures.

Shahab Alam (3-23) was the pick of the Narayani bowlers, while Dipesh Shrestha took 2-26. Skipper Karan KC claimed a wicket along with Kishore Mahato and Sushan Bhari.

In reply, Aarif Sheikh top scored for Narayani with 44 off 45 balls that included a boundary and four sixes, while Siddhant Lohani struck two fours in his 15-ball 20. Ishan Pandey (13) and skipper Subash Khakurel (11) were the other batsmen who scored in double figures. Super-over hero KC — who was later named the man of the match — was dismissed for nine runs. Khakurel led the side in the absence of skipper Paras Khadka, who pulled out of the tournament after being infected with coronavirus on Friday.

Sompal Kami took 2-27 for Bagmati, while Sagar Dhakal, Pawan Sarraf, Bikram Sob, Lalit Rajbanshi and Rashid Khan claimed one wicket each.

A total of three teams are taking part in the tournament organised jointly by Bagmati Province Cricket Association and Chitwan Cricket Association under the sponsorship of Sport development Council of Bagmati Province and managed by Queens Event Management, the organisers of the Pokhara Premier League. Bagmati will take on Rapti in the second match of the tournament on Sunday.

The four-day tournament is the first domestic event since the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

The three teams — Bagmati, Narayani and Rapti — are formed with the national team players who are currently in the close camp.

The tournament is the first event hosted by the Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium being constructed under the initiation of Dhurmus Suntali Foundation.

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