KATHMANDU, Feb 4: Bibek Kumar Yadav’s gallant innings helped Birgunj Stars win the first ever Birgunj Premier League title defeating Singh XI Lions by four wickets in the final match played at Narayani Cricket Ground in Birgunj on Monday.

Player-of-the-match Yadav smashed six sixes and five boundaries during his 37-ball stay scoring an unbeaten 71 runs coming in to bat at number seven as Stars chased down the target of 141 runs in 18.5 overs to secure the championship. He shared an unbeaten partnership of 73 runs with Aliyas Mansuri, who chipped in with 15 runs in as many deliveries.

Stars innings was struggling at 68 runs for the loss of six wickets in the 12th over. Stars had lost captain Haseem Ansari for 11 runs off 20 deliveries and Manjay Kumar Mahato for 17 runs off 19 deliveries which included two boundaries. Bishal Sushling, Santosh Karki and Hari Shankar Sah were all dismissed for four runs each.

Rahul Pratap Singh scalped three wickets in the match supported by Rohit Kumar Singh, Robin Kumar Singh and Mehboob Alam shared a wicket each in the losing cause.

Earlier, Bhulawan Sahani, Yadav, Sah and Saidullah Ansari shared a wicket each to limit Lions for 140 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bowl first.

Himanshu Dutta batted 35 deliveries to bring up his half-century 54 runs which included five boundaries and three sixes. He shared an unbeaten partnership of 87 runs with Abinash Adhikari who stayed unbeaten on 45 runs off 50 deliveries which included three boundaries and a six.

 
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