OSharad Vesawkar-led Panchakanya Tez defeated Paras Khadka’s Vishal Warriors to finish unbeaten in the round robin league of the Wai Wai Everest Premier League on Friday.

In a clash between the two top teams, Warriors lost in-form skipper Khadka early but they recovered to post a competitive 142-6 in 20 overs. Tez had worst possible start after they were reduced to 20-3 by the seventh over but a match-winning partnership between Aarif Sheikh and Prithu Baskota guided Tez to 143-8 in 19.3 overs.

It was fifth consecutive victory for Tez in the tournament, while Warriors suffered their first defeat.

Tez lost opener Aasif Sheikh (seven), Sharad Vesawkar (nine) and Karan KC (four) cheaply before Aarif and Baskota combined for a half century stand brining them back in the game. The two batsmen cut loose once they were set at the crease to catch up with the run rate as modest contributions from the lower order helped them cross the finish line.

“Every single player is contributing to the team. Its a team effort as always. All players who have been getting chances are chipping in. We don’t want to think much about the final and would like to continue the winning momentum,” said Vesawkar.

Man-of-the-match Aarif and Baskota shared 67 runs for the fourth wicket taking Tez close to triple figures. Baskota lost his wicket to Sagar Pun after hitting the bowler for a six. He made 24 off 22. New batsman Sonu Tamang (14) stepped in and smashed two sixes off Pun in the same over before Tez lost man-of-the-match Aarif.

Aarif’s mature 34-ball innings included three sixes and a four. Warriors soon got rid of Tamang but Dipendra Singh Airee (12), Kushal Bhurtel (eight) and Puspa Thapa (eight) did enough to hand Tez the victory. Dipesh Shrestha picked up 4-29 for Warriors in his first match of the tournament. Ramnaresh Giri also had two scalps.

Earlier, Sushil Kandel gave Tez early breakthrough removing opener Nurdhoj Sen (four) in the first and Raju Rijal (three) in the third over. Khadka stepped in and played some blazing strokes but was removed by Bhuwan Karki while trying to reverse sweep the left arm spinner.

Khadka made 27 off 17 with four boundaries and a six. Karki also removed Suraj Kurmi (four) reducing Warriors to 54-4 in the ninth over. But opener Sagar Pun and Manjeet Shrestha shared 71-run stand for the fifth wicket to push Warriors towards a competitive total.

Pun top scored for Warriors with 38-ball 44 that included three sixes. Shrestha was the next best, scoring 40 off 35 hitting two boundaries and a six. Skipper Khadka said his side was unable to cope the pressure in the closing stages of the game.  “I think inexperience in the death overs cost us the game today. We have boys who are very eager to perform and hopefully we do that in our crucial match tomorrow (against Colors X-Factor),” said Khadka.