Pokhara Lions and Parbat Titans recorded wins in the Machhapuchhre Cricket League in Pokhara on Friday.

Pokhara Lions beat Informatics College Cheetahs by 43 runs to climb on top of the six-team standings, while Titans defeated Syangja Challengers by 40 runs to climb to fourth. Both Pokhaka Lions and Cheetahs have six points from three games with the former ahead on net run-rate. Titans, Machhapuchhre Lions and Challengers all have three points with the former holding third position on net run-rate. Titans and Machhapuchhre have played two games each while Challengers have completed three.

Electing to bat first, Pokhara Lions scored 131-8 in their 20 overs but defended the total by restricting Cheetahs for 88 runs in 12.5 overs. Man-of-the-match Sudeep Poudel struck a flamboyant half century while skipper Raju chipped in 24-ball 26. Poudel struck six boundaries and two sixes in his 38-ball knock. Santosh Shrestha was pick of the Cheetahs bowlers with figures of 3-21 off four overs. Bishwas Parajuli and Joy Sharma also bagged one wicket each while Cheetahs also effected three run outs.

Cheetahs batsmen failed to capitalise on the good work of their bowlers and were eventually restricted to a low total in their chase. Lal Bahadur Gurung and skipper Gurung took three wickets each to derail the Cheetahs’ run chase. Opener Vinay Bhandari top scored for Cheetahs with a fluent 23-ball 38. Kiran Pun (20) was the only other Cheetahs’ batsman to score in double figures and Biru Gurung and man-of-the-match Poudel polished off the tail with two wickets each for Pokhara Lions.

Despite putting on what appeared a mediocre 112-run total on the board, Titans beat Challengers by 40 overs. Challengers could only muster 72 in 17.2 overs. Sahil Karki was by far the best batsman for Titans scoring 31 runs, his 27-ball innings included two sixes and as many fours. Abhishek Thapa was the next best scorers with 21 runs. Om Gurung and Suraj Gurung claimed three wickets each, while Ashok Shrestha bagged two for Challengers.

Man-of-the-match Raju Thapa and Suraj Shrestha ran through the Challengers batting lineup taking four wickets each as Ashok Shrestha top scored with 20. Bishwa Thapa chipped in with 18 in a hapless Challengers’ batting display.