Explosive knocks from Peter Trego and Saurav Khanal steered Dhangadhi Blues to a 78-run win over Biratnagar Titans in the Pokhara Premier League in Pokhara on Sunday.

Put into bat first, Dhangadhi posted 182 in 20 overs before restricting Biratnagar to 104 in 16.4 overs. Dhangadhi made a poor start losing openers Sandeep Sunar (9) and Dan Lawrence (2), who plies his trade with English county side Essex, to be reeling at 13-2. But a quick-fire half century from another English country player Peter Trego resurrected their innings.

Trego, who plays profession cricket for Somerset, struck 53 before falling prey to Jitendra Mukhiya. Trego slammed four sixes and two fours in his 38-ball knock. Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee (29), Sandeep Jhora (12) and Robeen Chhetri  (10) also chipped in valuable runs to the total but it was tailender  Khanal’s late bliz that helped Dhangadhi post a commanding total. Khanal clobbered five sixes and two fours in his 13-ball 41 and  was the last man out in the final ball of their innings.

Mukhiya was the pick of the Biratnagar bowlers with figures of 4-49 off  four overs. Star leg-spinner and skipper Sandeep Lamichhane, Kishore  Mahato, Sunil Dhamala and Muhammad Zaid Alam picked up wicket each.

Biratnagar never gave a fight in the run chase with Dhamala top scoring  for the team with 14-ball 21. Alam (19) and Tamil Nadu player Anton Andrew Subikshan (18) got starts but could not convert it to big scores as Biratnagar were bowled out for more than three overs to spare. Lawrence took three and Airee claimed two wickets for Dhangadhi. Man-of-the-match Trego, Kamal Singh Airee and Chhetri also bagged one wicket each for Dhangadhi.

In the day’s second match, Butwal Blasters beat Pokhara Paltans by 33 runs riding on a splendid performance from their international recruit, Rohan Mustafa of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Batting first Butwal scored 150-7 and restricted Pokhara for 117-9.

Butwal lost opening batsmen Chirag Suri (5) and Sagar Pun (2) cheaply but Mustafa scored a superb 45 and Bhim Sharki slammed a half century to lift their team from a precarious position. Mustafa slammed three boundaries and two sixes in his 35-ball innings, while Sharki hit three sixes and two fours in his 46-ball 54. Skipper Sompal Kami also struck a quick-fire 22 off just eight balls to propel their total. Pokhara’s UAE international Mohammad Naveed took three wickets while Mohammed Alam, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and skipper Sharad Vesawkar claimed one wicket apiece.

In reply, Kushal Bhurtal (9) and Aasif Sheikh (20) appeared to gave Pokhara a desired start to their run chase with a 31-run stand for the opening wicket. But Bipin Khatri clean bowled Bhutel in the last ball of  the fourth over that triggered a dramatic collapse of Paltans. Apart from Sheikh only skipper Vesawkar (19) chipped in with notable runs as Pokhara batsmen found runs hard to come by. Kami, Lalit Bhandari,  Bipin Khatri and man-of-the-match Mustafa claimed two wickets each for Butwal.

Summaries

Dhangadhi Blues 182 all out in 20 overs (P Trego, S Khanal 41; J Mukhiya 4-49, S Lamichhane 1-24) beat Biratnagar Titans 104 in 16.4 overs (S Dhamala 21, MZ Alam 19; D Lawrence 3-17, D Airee, 2-27, P Trego 1-30) by 78 runs

Man-of-the-match: P Trego

Butwal Blasters 150-7 (B Sharki 54, R Mustafa 45; M Naveed 3-20, S Vesawkar 1-22) beat Pokhara Paltans 117-9 (A Sheikh 20, S Vesawkar 19; R Mustafa 2-28, Kami 2-25, B Khatri 2-19) by 33 runs

Man-of-the-match: R Mustafa