Tonk inspires Blasters’ super-over win

POKHARA, Dec 17: Avinash Bohara defended 13 runs in the super-over after the match was tied to help Butwal Blasters secure two points against Kathmandu Golden Warriors during the second Pokhara Premier League (PPL) at the Pokhara Stadium’s cricket ground on Monday.

With the loss, Warriors stare at an early exit after two losses in back-to-back matches with only three matches to go.

The match was tied after both the teams scored 140 runs each. Winning the toss and electing to field first, Warriors mustered 140 runs in 20 overs losing six wickets. Pawan Sarraf smashed unbeaten 37 runs off 21 deliveries including three boundaries and two sixes to help Warriors reach 140 towards the end. Earlier, JaikishanKolsawala contributed 28 runs off 24 deliveries including three sixes and a four whereas Aadil Khan chipped in with 23 runs off 15 deliveries including a four and a six. Warriors captain GyanendraMalla and former Nepal wicket-keeper SubashKhakurel scored

NeeteshThapa who was making his franchise league debut picked two wickets in his first over of the match dismissing Malla and danger-man SubodhBhati for a duck. Likewise, HariBahadur Chauhan and AvinashBohara shared a wicket each to limit Warriors. The first two wickets were run-out. Bipin Khatri, Lalit Singh Bhandari and Harsh Tonk were wicket-less in their respective overs.

Player-of-the-match Tonk played an innings of 45 runs off 29 deliveries including three boundaries and sixes each guiding Blasters chase with style and panache. He shared small but important partnerships with Shankar Rana and BhimSarki who scored 20 and 13 runs respectively. However, Shivam Singh’s 33 runs off 21 deliveries which included two boundaries and three sixes helped Blasters steer the late overs eventually ending in a super-over. Susan Bhari and Bhati shared two wickets each. Surya Tamang, Routela and Sarraf shared a wicket each.

Blasters next face Chitwan Rhinos on Thursday whereas Warriors will lock horns with Expert Dhangadhi Blues on Wednesday.

Player-of-the-match Dipendra Singh Airee scalped a three-wicket-haul to help his team Expert Dhangadhi Blues defend a small total of 117 runs by five runs against Biratnagar Titans during the second match of the Pokhara Premier League (PPL) held at PokharaRangashala Cricket Ground in Pokhara on Monday.

Airee further effected a run-out of DilipNath to impact the match despite failing with the bat getting golden duck against ShahabAlam. Similarly, SagarDhakal picked two wickets whereas Kamal Singh Airee, Amit Yadav and Anil Kharel shared a wicket each to limit Titans for 112 runs in 20 overs for the loss of nine wickets.

RajuRijal top-scored for the Titans with a fluent 22-ball 25 runs including two boundaries and a six. He didn’t get much support at the other end with Sunil Dhamala’s 21-ball 18 runs and PunitMehera’s 18-ball 15 runs being the best contributors from rest of the lineup. Dhangadhi conceded 16 extras which included eight wides, six legbyes and a no-ball.

Earlier, Titans won the toss and invited Dhangadhi to bat first. Rodrigo Thomas and SrimanthaWijeyratne, the Canadian duo, collected 16 and 25 runs respectively during the first innings to start the proceedings for the day. Thomas faced 13 deliveries and smashed two sixes whereas Wijeyratne smashed four boundaries and a six during his 25-ball stay. Kamal Singh Airee’s late 21-ball 26 runs helped Dhangadhi reach 117 at the end of 20 overs. He smashed two fours and sixes each. ShahabAlam was the best bowler of the innings registering three wickets whereas Pakistani Noman Khan picked two wickets. Kishore Mahato, PunitMehera and Mihammad Zaid Alam shared a wicket each.

Dhangadhi will face Warriors in the next match on Wednesday which, for the later team is a do-or-die match whereas Titans will lock horns with defending champions PokharaPaltan on same day during the day match.