KATHMANDU, Dec 5: Sudurpaschim Royals defeated Kathmandu Gurkhas by 73 runs in the ninth match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) held at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground, Kirtipur, on Thursday.
Sudurpaschim Royals, who lost the toss and were invited to bat first, scored 168 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs with the help of Brandon McMullen’s half-century, and boundary blitz from captain Dipendra Singh Airee and Binod Bhandari.
McMullen scored 53 runs off 36 balls, while Airee contributed 43 runs off 25 balls and Bhandari contributed 35 runs off 28 balls.
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On behalf of Kathmandu Gurkhas, Rashid Khan took 2 wickets conceding 20 runs in 4 overs, Shahab Alam took a wicket conceding 28 runs in 4 overs, Captain Karan KC took a wicket conceding 40 runs in 4 overs and Gerhard Erasmus took a wicket conceding nine runs in 2 overs.
Gurkhas managed to score only 94 runs after losing all wickets in 15.5 overs, while chasing the target of 168 runs set by the Royals. They were bowled out for 94 runs after young bowler Naren Saud took 5 wickets.
Stephen Eskinazi contributed the most 37 runs for Kathmandu Gurkhas, hitting 5 fours and one six off 33 balls.
Sumit Maharjan scored 14 runs off 10 balls and was caught out by Naren Saud off Abinash Bohara. Bhim Sarki scored 10 runs off 8 balls and was run out. Gerhard Erasmus added 10 runs off 5 balls.
Saud took 5 wickets conceding 19 runs in 3.5 overs for the Royals. Abhinash Bohara claimed two wickets and Brandon McMullen and Saif Zaib took one wicket each.
