Army to face New Horizon in Karnali Premier League final

Published On: May 4, 2019 09:10 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Shakti Gauchan (left) of New Horizon Butwal receives the player-of-the-match award at the end of a Karnali Premier League T20 cricket semifinal match against Karnali XI at the Kalinchowk Cricket Ground in Surkhet on Friday.

KATHMANDU, May 4: New Horizon Butwal held its nerve to chase a tricky total of 63 runs by three wickets against Karnali XI in a semifinal match to reach the final of the second season of Karnali Premier League held at Kalinchowk Cricket Ground in Surkhet on Friday.

Bishal Sunar stayed unbeaten on 10 runs including two boundaries in four deliveries to help New Horizon cross the line in 11.5 overs.

Subendu Pandey and Nischal Chaudhary contributed 18 and 10 runs respectively to help ease the chase. Pace bowlers Kishore Mahato’s three and Prakash Jaishi’s two wickets made life difficult for New Horizon batsmen.

Similarly, Diwan Pun and Krishna Karki shared a wicket each in a failed attempt to defend the small target.

Earlier, the match was reduced to 13 overs per side match after a short rain intervention. Player of the match Shakti Gauchan bowled three economical overs conceding six runs and picking up two wickets to limit Karnali XI for 63 runs in 13 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Karki remained unbeaten on 33 runs from 31 deliveries which included three boundaries and a six. Arjun Rayamajhi and Akhilesh Yadav shared a wicket each.

In the other semifinal match of the day, Tribhuvan Army Club defeated Armed Police Force (AFP) Club by a wicket in departmental derby match held at same venue.

Player of the match Sompal Kami played a crucial knock of 31 runs from 22 deliveries to help Army chase the paltry total of 87 runs by a wicket in 17.4 overs.

Rohit Kumar Paudel and Jeetendra Mukhiya’s 12 runs each were the only other double-digit scorers during the chase. Kamal Singh Airee and Yagyaman Kumal shared two wickets each supported by Amar Singh Routela, Bhuvan Karki and Sharad Vesawkar’s a wicket each but couldn’t prevent Army from sneaking pass in the final at APF’s expense.

Earlier, APF had won the toss and posted 86 runs on the board before getting all out in 18 overs.
Kami scalped three wickets to give his team upper hand in the match. He was supported by Sushan Bhari’s two, and one wicket each by Mukhiya and Shahab Alam. Skipper Vesawkar top-scored for APF with boundary-less 30 runs off 37 deliveries.

Army and New Horizon will face in the final of the premier league on Saturday.