Spinners help Kings XI oust Tigers

KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Gaurav Tomar, the foreign batsman from India, smashed a breathtaking 82 runs with a strike rate of 200 propelling Lalitpur Patriots to second win in three games by eight wickets during the fifth match of the Everest Premier League against Pokhara Rhinos at Tribhuvan University international cricket ground in Kirtipur on Monday. Patriots have four points after three matches and are on top of the EPL points table.

The 27-year old Indian List-A player played shots all around the ground smashing eight sixes and four boundaries during his 41-ball stay at the crease sharing an opening partnership of 129 runs with his fellow Indian batsman Jaikishan Kolsawala which is a new EPL record. The left-handed Kolsawala also made a quick-fire 51 runs from 38 deliveries which included four boundaries and three sixes. 

English bowler Paul Coughlin and Susan Bhari were the only wicket takers for Pokhara Rhinos sharing a wicket each. Rhinos failed to defend two totals in first two matches of new season of EPL. Bipin Khatri, Bikram Sob, veteran Shakti Gauchan and Sunil Dhamala all went wicket-less as Patriots chased down the total of 166 runs in the 16th over.

Earlier, Rhinos won the toss and elected to bat first once again after failing to defend the total of 215 runs against Bhairahawa Gladiators in the previous match. Richard Levi once again was in sublime touch as he raced on to 84 runs from 39 deliveries which included three boundaries and nine sixes.  However, Patriots came back in the match strongly as Pawan Sarraf, the U-19 national team off-spinner, removed three top order batsmen including Levi, skipper Kyle Coetzer and Sunil Dhamala. From being 97 for no loss at the 10th over stage, Rhinos were limited to 166 runs in the 20 overs for the loss of four wickets.

Tomar was adjudged player of the match for his match-winning half-century and tidy four overs at the tail-end of the first innings conceding 26 runs. Patriots will next play against Kathmandu Kings Xi on Wednesday whereas Rhinos will tussle against unbeaten Biratnagar Warriors on Tuesday.

Indian leg-spinner Pradeep Sahu and Nepal U-19 left arm spinner Samsaad Sheikh shared three wickets each to help Kathmandu Kings XI bowlers dismiss Chitwan Tigers for 160 runs in 19.5 overs before chasing the total in 19th over to seal their first win by six wickets of the Everest Premier League in a match played at Tribhuvan University international cricket ground in Kirtipur on Monday.  

Sahu, the former Kings XI Punjab bowler, dismissed key batsmen Paul Stirling, John Simpson and Dipendra Singh Airee to bring Kings XI back in the game after conceding 69 runs in six power play overs. Stirling smashed 34 runs from 13 deliveries which included three fours and three sixes at the start of the Tigers’ innings. Sagar Pun, Amar Singh Routela and Irish international Kevin O’Brien shared a wicket each to limit Tigers for 160 runs in an inspired come back. 

The Indian batsman Subramanium Aanand smashed 43 runs from 18 deliveries which included a four and three sixes completed the chase with Routela remaining unbeaten on 21 runs from 12 deliveries. Sagar Pun contributed with 39 runs from 34 deliveries including six boundaries at the start of the chase.

Shahab Alam was pick of the bowlers for Tigers picking up two wickets conceding 26 runs in his full quota of four overs. Lalit Singh Bhandari and Paul Stirling shared a wicket each for Tigers but couldn’t prevent Kings XI from completing the chase.

Aanand was adjudged player of the match. Kings XI will face Patriots on Wednesday whereas Chitwan Tigers will play against Bhairahawa Gladiators on Tuesday.

Sarun Bhatta receives Rs 50,000
Sarun Bhatta, an Information Technology student at Amrit Science Campus (ASCOL), grabbed one-handed catch in the crowd off a Richard Levi monstrous shot at the TU international cricket ground during the Everest Premier League (EPL) match between Pokhara Rhinos and Bhairahawa Gladiators on Sunday to claim the prize money of Rs 50,000. 

Bhatta has received Rs 50,000 from the organizers of the EPL on Monday after they verified the catch on television. EPL organizers had announced that during the ongoing season the spectator taking the one-handed catch at the crowd will receive prize money of Rs 50,000. Bhatta took the catch on the second day of the tournament and claimed the prize. EPL handed over the prize money on Monday.

BRIEF SCORES
5th Match, Everest Premier League at Kirtipur
Pokhara Rhinos (Toss) 166/4
Levi 84, Bhandari 34*, Sarraf 31/3
Lalitpur Patriots 171/2 (15.5ov)
Tomar 82, Kolsawala 51, Bhari 26/1
Patriots won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Gaurav Tomar
4th Match
Chitwan Tigers 160
DS Airee 45,Samsaad 18/3, Sahu 24/3
Kathmandu Kings XI (Toss) 164/4 (18.5ov)
Aanand 43*, Pun 39, Shahab 26/2
Kings XI won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Subramanian Aanand

 
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