KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Young U-19 batsman Rohit Poudel’s back to back sixes in first two deliveries of the last over bowled by Indian bowler Dipesh Bhandari sealed Bhairahawa Gladiators’ place in final of the EPL 2017. He scored unbeaten 28 runs from 17 deliveries with a four and two sixes.
A brisk partnership of 27 runs between Rohit and Punit Mishra secured the match for Gladiators towards the end of the match when the chasing team looked in tricky sort of situations at 88 for 6 at one stage. Pratham Salunke, the Gladiators opener played a quick cameo of 32 runs in 22 deliveries at top of the innings in which he scored three back to back sixes against Sandeep Lamichhane. Lalit Rajbanshi and Pawan Sarraf picked two wickets each for Patriots.
A late innings charge by Indian all-rounder Dipesh Bhandari scoring 22 runs from nine deliveries propelled Lalitpur Patriots total to 132 runs in 20 overs for the loss of six wickets. Another Indian player for Patriots Jaykishan Kolsawala made 42 runs at top of the innings.
The Patriots innings was struggling at the end after the loss of their skipper Gyanendra Malla for only 20 runs when Aarif Sheikh struck in his last over of the match. Dipesh Bhandari then smashed two fours and two sixes in the last over of the match off Hari Shankar Shah to power Patriots score from 112 for five wickets at the end of 19th over to 132 after the 20th over.
Puneet Mishra, the Indian all-rounder for Bhairahawa Gladiators picked two wickets conceding 28 runs in his four overs to restrict the Patriots total to 132 in 20 overs. He scalped the important wicket of Jaykishan Kolsawala. The opening wicket-keeper batsman for Patriots smashed five fours and two sixes facing 37 deliveries. Sunny Patel, the Indian all-rounder for Patriots, continued his good form scoring another cameo of 24 runs from 18 deliveries that included two fours and a six.
Earlier, Bhairahawa Gladiators won the toss and elected to bowl first in the Qualifier 2 of Everest Premier League 2017. Biratnagar Warriors has already reached the finals of the EPL yesterday after defeating Gladiators. Patriots defeated Pokhara Rhinos in Eliminator to reach the second qualifier.
Match Summary
Lalitpur Patriots 132/6 (20 Ov)
J Kolsawala 42 (37) 5 fours, 2 sixes
S Patel 24 (18) 2 fours, 1 six
Dipesh Bhandari 22 (9) 2 fours, 2 sixes
Bhairahawa Gladiators (Toss) 133/7 (19.3 Ov)
P Salunke 32 (22), 3 fours, 3 sixes
Rohit Poudel* 28 (17) 1 fours, 2 sixes
Gladiators win by three wickets. Man of the match: Rohit Poudel
Bowlers held nerves to make Patriots the EPL champion
