Suraxa Hospital Cricket Club won the first Khukuri challengers T20 Cup 2017 beating Tip Top XI by 16 runs in the final match of the tournament played at Pulchowk Cricket Ground. Scorecard
Winning the toss, Suraxa Hospital Cricket Club opted to bat first and scored 146 runs in 20 overs before getting all out in 19.4 overs. After Sunil Dhamala (6) and Amit Shrestha(0) were dismissed early, Aarif Seikh settled nerves for Suraxa with confident innings of 45 runs from 31 balls. His innings included 6 fours and a six. Suraxa skipper Prem Tamang who scored 26 runs added an important 37 runs with Aarif for 5th wicket. Aarif also bagged 2 wickets in the second innings including that of veteran batsman and Tip Top skipper Prasanna Shakya. Tip Top were restricted for 130-8 in 20 overs.
Aarif bowled the final over of the match with Tip Top needing 20 to win. He got rid of Prasanna Shakya in the second ball of the over. Shakya was on course of taking Tip Top to an emphatic victory having scored 3 sixes in his blitzkrieg innings of 37 from 22 balls before Aarif bowled him. The final over fetched only 3 runs for Tip Top. Aarif ended the match bowling 3 dot balls in a row, the last of which was a slower ball which Pradeep Tandon slogged to long on for an easy catch to Roshan Budal.
Prakash Bista, who got 3 wickets with the ball for Tip Top, opened the innings and top scored with 45 from 50 balls. Karan KC and Himansu Dutta each contributed with 10 runs. Tip Top always lagged behind during the chase as all of the batsman except Shakya scored at less than a run a ball.
Manjeet Shrestha, Kushal Bhurtel got 2 wickets each for Suraxa. Ram Naresh Giri who bowled the only maiden of the match got 1 wicket, giving only 17 runs from his 4 overs.
Suraxa Hospital CC took home a cash prize of Rs. 200,000 along with winner trophy. Runners Up Tip Top bagged Rs. 100,000.
Prakash Bista wit 263 runs, 6 wickets and 3 player of the match in the tournament was declared the player of the tournament and took home cash prize of Rs. 25,000. Sandeep Jora of Royal PC fighter was adjudged the best batsman with 192 runs in the tournament. Jora was also declared the emerging player of the tournament. Prem Tamang who ended the tournament with 10 wickets was declared the best bowler. Sandeep and Prem were awarded cash prize of Rs.10,000. Jora also received for a SM Bat his emerging player performance.
The sixteen team event was played from 14th January. All matches up to the semi finals were played at Army School Cricket Ground, Sallaghari till 29th January and only the final match was held in Pulchowk.
