Parbat Titans defeated Machhapuchhre Lions by five wickets to enter the final of the Machhapuchhre Cricket League Twenty20 at the MCC grounds in Pokhara on Thursday. 

In the second Qualifier, Machhapuchhre made 118-6 in five overs riding on a half century stand between skipper Dipesh Khatri and Mahesh Regmi. A collective batting effort saw Titans reach 121-5 in 18 overs.

Titans will now meet Down Town Pokhara Lions in the final in what is going to be a rematch between the two sides. Titans were beaten by Lions in the first Qualifier on Wednesday and Saturday’s final will give them a chance to avenge the defeat in style.

Titans had got off to a decent start after openers Agendra Chhantyal (10) and Paras Lamichhane shared a 37-run partnership. Lamichhane scored 27 from 24 balls with three fours and a six. After the fall of the openers, Sahil Karki anchored the Titans innings with a crucial 37-run third wicket stand with Abhishek Thapa (seven). 

Karki top scored with a 27-ball 31 that included six hits to the fence. Karki was out when Titans were 24 runs sigh of victory and Deepen Rayamajhi (10), Ramesh Basnet (seven not out) completed the chase along with Anish GC who hit a seven-ball 17 with three fours. Abhishek Singh Thakuri and Nirmal Chhetri picked up two wickets each for Machhapuchhre.

Earlier, the hosts were precariously placed at 36-3 in 6.5 overs before Regmi and Khatri consolidated the innings with a 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Khatri notched up a match-high 40 from 38 deliveries hitting three fours and a six, while Regmi scored 38 from 46 with six boundaries. Raju Tamang and Santwana Poudel picked up a wicket each for Titans.