KATHMANDU, Nov 23: Nepal’s teenage globe-trotter Sandeep Lamcihhane made instant impression winning the player of the match award on his T10 cricket league debut for Kerala Knights, the defending champions, in a 10-over per side match played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah on Wednesday. Knights won by eight wickets after the 18-year-old picked up three wickets for 17 runs in his full quota of 2 overs against Pakhtoons.

Knights won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second match of the opening day of the T10 season two restricting Pakhtoons for 109 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allocated quota of 10 overs. The defending champions completed the chase with 13 balls to spare.

Lamichhane, introduced in the fifth over by Captain Eoin Morgan, made immediate impact dismissing South African Colin Ingram and West Indian Andre Fletcher in his first over of the match. Lamichhane struck with his first ball of the match as Fletcher mistimed a shot and the catch was completed by skipper Morgan. Fletcher was striking the ball well up until then smashing three fours and two sixes in his 14-ball 32 runs. 

Similarly, Ingram didn’t trouble the scorers much as he was stumped out by Sri Lankan part-time wicket-keeper for a run in two deliveries outfoxed by a Lamichhane googly.

Likewise, Lamichhane dismissed United Arab Emirates batsman Mohammad Kaleem for a duck from three deliveries. West Indian Kieron Pollard completed the catch at the long on boundary. Pakhtoons started well but soon found themselves four wickets down for 76 runs at the end of seven overs, three of them taken by Lamichhane.

“We wanted to restrict them for as low total as possible and I am glad we did that,” said Lamichhane, at the mid-innings break.

Knights are drawn with Pakhtoons, Sindhis and Rajputs in one of the groups of the second season of T10 league. Similarly, newcomer Northern Warriors are drawn alongside Punjab Legends, Maratha Arabians and Bengal Tigers.

The Nepali spin sensation was drafted by Knights, the inaugural T10 league champions, in round three of an official draft program held in Dubai back in September.

Lamichhane’s franchise league journey began when he created history becoming the first player from Nepal to be bought by foreign franchise team, the Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit Delhi Daredevil. Since then, he has been part of Nangarhar Leopards in Afghanistan Premier League, St Kitts Nevis and Patriots in Caribbean Premier League and Montreal Tigers in Global T20 Canada. He was also recently drafted by Pakistan Super League outfits Lahore Qalandars after Melbourne Stars signed him for Big Bash League and Sylhet Sixers acquired his services for forthcoming respective seasons. He is set to represent Lalitpur Patriots in Everest Premier League in Nepal before heading to Australia to participate in Big Bash.

The International Cricket Council-sanctioned T10 cricket league will run until December 2 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. T10 League is the first-ever internationally approved ten-over cricket league launched and owned by T10 Sports Management. The league is also approved by the Emirates Cricket Board. Matches are 10-over-a-side and the duration of a match is 90 minutes.

BREIF SCORES
T10 League in Sharjah, 2nd Match (N)
Pakhtoons 109/5
ADS Fletcher32, CS Delport*28, S Lamichhane3/17
Kerala Knights (Toss) 110/2 (7.5/10 ov)
EJG Morgan*46, PR Stirling40, Sohail Khan1/12
Knights won by 8 wickets (with 13 balls remaining)
Player of the Match: Sandeep Lamichhane

 
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