Sports
Goldens take on Chauraha
A confident looking Kathmandu Goldens take on defending champions Dhangadhi Team Chauraha in the first Qualifier of the Dhangadhi Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament on Tuesday.Adarsha Dhakal
A confident looking Kathmandu Goldens take on defending champions Dhangadhi Team Chauraha in the first Qualifier of the Dhangadhi Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament on Tuesday.
Goldens are in sublime form having finished as the table toppers without losing a single games in five games, the last of which was completely washed out due to rain. With a decent squad at the disposal, Goldens looked clinical in their first two matches against Chauraha and Rupandehi Challengers before showing their another side by making a remarkable comebacks to defeat CYC Attariya and Biratnagar Kings. They had to share points against Mahendra-nagar United due to rain.
Chauraha, meanwhile, were favoured by tournament regulation after they made it to the first Qualifier despite being behind on net run rate with United with whom they were tied on six points. United, who won two matches and lost one, were pushed to the third spot after two of their matches were washed out. Chauraha had beaten Attariya, United and Rupandehi Challengers but were comprehensively beaten by Goldens and Kings.
Sunday’s first Qualifier is a good opportunity for Chauraha to avenge the defeat suffered in the first game. “They (Goldens) might be taking us lightly considering the way we played against them in the league stage,” said Chauraha coach Sher Bahadur Lama. “But we are actually a good side, especially after getting two foreign recruits. Rohan Mustafa and Ashfaq Ahmed are experienced campaigners. We had actually did not get the momentum going against Goldens in the first match and now we need to make sure we don’t repeat that in the Qualifier,” said Lama.
The United Arab Emirates skipper Mustafa and his teammate Ahmed had joined Chauraha after the first game. While Ahmed is yet to score big runs, Mustafa has been the game changer for Chauraha proving handy in both the bowling and batting departments. To add to their confidence, their pinch-hitter Sonu Tamang have found his touch which he displayed in a crucial match against Challengers. With Sunil Dhamala and skipper Sompal Kami also contributing to the team, Chauraha have suddenly looked a decent side.
But to get the better of Goldens, Chauraha will have a long list of players to deal with beginning with the openers Amit Shrestha and Subodh Bhati. Skipper Gyanendra Malla has already made a big impact in the tournament with back-to-back half centuries, while another Indian recruit Sunny Patel have turned out to be a good allrounder for Goldens.
Goldens bowling efforts will crucially define by the way spinners Lalit Rajbanshi and Shahab Alam fare in the middle overs. Malla wants to put a clinical performance and not think of the final yet. “Yes we had looked quite good in the league stage. But Twenty20 cricket is a tricky affair. We have to start from the scratch in the Qualifier because every day is new in cricket. Chauraha have gained a lot of confidence with their three victories and we don’t want to take them lightly,” said Malla.
The winners of the Qualifier will enter the final. The losing side will have another shot at the final berth, playing against the winners of the Eliminator match on Wednesday. United and Attariya play the Eliminator on Tuesday.