Sports
Dabas stars again in Goldens win
Indian recruit Ankit Dabas once again played a crucial role with an allround display as Kathmandu Goldens registered their second consecutive victory in the Dhangadhi Premier League beating Mahendranagar United by seven runs.Sports Bureau
Indian recruit Ankit Dabas once again played a crucial role with an allround display as Kathmandu Goldens registered their second consecutive victory in the Dhangadhi Premier League beating Mahendranagar United by seven runs.
Put in to bat first, Dabas hung around the crease to notch-up tournament’s highest individual scored of 65 leading Goldens to 134-5 in 20 overs. He then returned to pick up two crucial wickets as United were restricted to 127-8. Goldens now stay at the second spot on net run rate after they were tied on four points with Rupandehi Challengers.
Sharad Vesawkar’s United, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat and will now be under pressure to deliver in rest of the game. Despite being in a pole position for the playoffs, Goldens skipper Gyanendra Malla didn’t want to get buoyed.
“There are chances (for the playoffs) but we have to win and finish inside the top two. The situations are difficult because all the teams are good,” said Malla. He was all praise of Dabas who forged a match-winning unbroken partnership of 76 runs for the sixth wicket with Yogendra Singh Karki as Goldens put tournament’s highest total so far.
“He (Ankit) looks experienced and knows the game situation. He stuck to the crease and got good partnership from Yogendra. The stand was really vital for us specially in the wickets that favour the bowlers,” added Malla.
United were 7-2 in their chase but with a strong middle order led by Vesawkar kept them in the game until Dabas struck. He removed Vesawkar and Subramanian Anand (15) before Rashid Khan’s two wickets reduced them to 86-7 in 12.5 overs. Amar Singh Routela and Siddhant Lohani kept them in the game before Karki bowled a decisive last over.
Needing 12 runs from six balls, Karki dismissed Lohani (nine) and conceded just four runs in the last five balls. Routela made 28 off 27 with two hits to the fence. Vesawkar was the second best making 23 off 24 with three boundaries. Khan, who conceded just three runs in the 16th over, took 3-17 from four overs.
Goldens had a similar start losing opener Gaurav Tomar (one) and Anil Kumar Sah (six) cheaply. Dabas anchored the innings before cutting loose in closing stages. He added 29 for the third wicket with Malla (14) and a match-defining 42-ball 76 with Karki for the sixth. Man-of-the-match Dabas’ 55-ball innings included five fours and three sixes. Karki chipped in 22 off 14.