KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Player-of-the-match Ariya Poudel picked up eight wickets in the second innings against Nexus Cricket Academy to help Great Himalaya Cricket Academy (GHCA) top the Group B after an early win on second day of the Match 5 of ongoing Himalaya Cricket League in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
In a match played at Mulpani Cricket Ground, Nexus was all-out for 117 runs in 42 overs in reply to GHCA’s 220 runs in the first innings.
Host GHCA secures HCL title
Nexus lost the match by an innings and 64 runs on day-2 morning. The wicket-keeper batsman Mahesh Rana and KrishKarki top-scored with 23 runs each off 48 and 62 deliveries respectively.
Prashan Singh and Avishek Basnet picked up a wicket each as Poudel notched up his career best in two-day cricket with figures of 18 overs, 29 runs and eight wickets.
Earlier, Nexus were shot out for 40 runs in 24 overs in the first innings. Mohammad Hussain impressed with his pace bowling scalping a five-wicket-haul to help GHCA bundle-out Nexus cheaply. Rashid Khan and Sonu Devkota chipped in with two wickets each. Similarly, Poudel had registered a wicket in the first innings.
Aasif Sheikh continued his good form with another 51 runs off 52 deliveries which included seven boundaries and three sixes in GHCA’s second innings 220 runs. He had scored a century in the first match for GHCA. Similarly, Prashan Singh stayed unbeaten on 50 runs off 71 deliveries which included seven boundaries and a six. Narendra Saud scalped six wickets for Nexus.
GHCA will face the winner of Group A for the HCL title. Kathmandu Cricket Training Center is set to face Oasis Cricket Academy for the final place on Thursday. Both teams defeated Baluwatar Cricket Club during its respective group matches.
