Sonu Tamang hit a blistering century as Baluwatar Cricket Club entered the quarter-finals of the Khukuri Challenger Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Mulpani Cricket Grounds on Thursday.

In the Group ‘B’ match, Baluwatar hammered Lord Buddha Cricket Club (LBCC) by 105 runs to stay at the top of the table with third consecutive wins. Royal PC Fighter, who cruised to a 58-run victory over Trimurty Boys in the other match of the day, stay behind Baluwatar on net run rate after both teams were tied on nine points each. LBCC, Trimurty Boys and IOE Pulchowk made early exit.

Tamang’s breath-taking knock was the highlight of the day as the No 5 batsman smashed 131 not out from 59 balls guiding Baluwatar to 208-4 in 20 overs. It was third century in the tournament. LBCC were restricted to 103-9 in reply. Baluwatar were reduced to 48-3 despite opener Suman Uday scoring 26 off 24 with five boundaries. Tamang then shared 132 runs for the fourth wicket with Prithu Baskota to put his team in a strong position. He hit 12 boundaries and nine sixes. Baskota made 22-ball 26 with two boundaries. Tejendra Rajbhandari took two wickets for LBCC.

In reply, LBCC were quickly reduced to 46-6 before a 46-run seventh wicket stand between Prasoon Thapa Magar and Anup Shrestha (24) helped them cross triple figures. Magar scored 32 off 31 with five fours. Both LBCC top scorers fell to man-of-the-match Tamang. Shaisav KC took 3-13 for Baluwatar.

Earlier in the day, Naresh Chand rescued PC Fighter with a gritty half century to help his team post 182-6. Opener Himanshu Dutta replied with a half century but could not take his team across the finishing line as Trimurty Boys finished at 124-9.