Panchakanya Tez 129 for 8 (Thapa 38 Aasif Sheikh 32 Airee 22 Bohara 4-28) beat Kantipur Gurkhas 95 for 9 (Jhora 17 Airee 4-21 2-17) by 34 runs. Full Scorecard
Vishal warriors 117 for 3 (Khadka 56 Pun 23 Shah Alam 2-23) beat Jagadamba Rhinos 110 f0r 6 (Shrestha 39 Tamang 26 Giri 3-25) by seven wickets. Full Scorecard
Panchakanya Tez and Vishal Warriors have continued their unbeaten run in the tournament and now occupy the top two spots in the league standings with 6 and 5 points from 3 matches respectively
In the first match of the day, Tez were invited to bat first by Kantipur Gurkhas in overcast conditions. Gurkhas seamers proved their captain’s decision correct as they soon restricted Tez to 6 for 4, with Avinash Bohara taking three wickets in the second over. Despite the wickets falling at a heap in the other hand, opener Aasif Sheikh continued in his merry ways and played a dazzling counter-attacking knock of 32 runs from 18 balls. However, once he was dismissed and the next batsman in, Bhuwan Karki, followed him to the pavilion Tez seems to be struggling at 46 for 6.
Experienced Pushpa Thapa (38 0f 43) and Dipendra Singh Airee (22 of 34) steadied the sinking ship and payed a patient knock in helping their side reach a respectable total of 129 runs. Quick running between the wickets and some calculated risks made sure Te reach a total which could be considered challenging under the pitch conditions.
In reply, Gurkhas once again lost their openers quickly and like the previous day, were unable to exhibit any batting depth. Sandip Jhora top-scored with a slow 17 runs from 33 balls in an hapless batting performance. Dipendra Singh Airee took 4 wickets for Tez and his celebrations notched up the excitement in an otherwise tame 20 overs of chase. (You can see his celebrations here). Airee was deservedly awarded man of the match.
In the rain-affected second match of the day, Man of the Match Paras Khadka led a dominant batting performance for Warriors as they made a light work out of a chase of 114 runs in 16 overs, Batting first, Jagdamba Rhinos wee unable to find much momentum in their innings as they were reduced to 46 for 3 in 9 overs when the rain came in. However once the rain spell was over and the match reduced to 16 overs each, Amit Shrestha found some touch as he smashed 3 sixes in his 24-ball 39. Rhinos made a slightly below par 110 in their allotted overs. Ramnaresh Giri strred with the ball for Warriors as he took 3 wickets.
Having been set 114 runs to chase under DLS method, opner Paresh Lohani started innings in a positive note with 3 boundaries to his name in 8 balls. However, it was Paras Khadka who once again who brought the TU Ground crowd to their feet with an attractive half-century. His 56 from 38 balls comprising of 7 fours and 2 sixes ensured that Warriors claim a comfortable victory. (Pictures from the match)
