Rapids win first Chitwan Premier League title

CHITWAN, Feb 7: Rapti Rapids has won the first edition of the Chitwan Premier League (CPL) defeating Sauraha Sands by eight wickets in Chitwan on Friday. 

In the final match played at Campachaur, Narayanghat, Rapids chased the target of 140 runs within 17.4 overs losing just two wickets. 

Captain Aakash Thapa scored the highest 74 runs off 57 balls for the winning team which included 10 fours and two sixes. 

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sands hit a total of 139 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing four wickets. 

Sands opener Rit Gautam and Rajesh Dhakal presented a partnership of 42 runs for the first wicket. 
Rapids captain Thapa was named the man of the final and was rewarded with Rs 2,000. 

With the title win, Rapids bagged a cash prize of Rs 200,000, while runner-up Sands got Rs 100,000. 

Likewise, Rapids’ Hari Bahadur Chauhan was named the player of the series and was awarded Rs 10,000, while Bharatpur Gurkhas’ Krijan Gurung was named the best bowler of the tournament as he took nine wickets and Rapids’ Bhim Sharki, who scored 131 runs, was adjudged to be the best batsman. 

Likewise, Rapids captain Thapa, who scored 122 runs and eight wickets, was named the best all-rounder as well and was given Rs 4,000. 

Chitwan Tigers selects players for trials.

The three best performing players of the tournament—Aakash Thapa, Kunjan Gurung, Rajesh Dhakal-- were selected for the talent hunt of the Everest Premier League outfit Chitwan Tigers. 

Likewise, Gurkhas’ captain Sangharsha Paudel was selected as an alternative. 

They will be called to Kathmandu for trials and one of them will be selected to 
represent Tigers in the EPL 2020, which runs from March 14 to 29.