Aasif Sheikh smashed a scintillating unbeaten century as Panchakanya Tez crushed Colors X-Factor by 40 runs to clinch the Wai Wai Everest Premier League (EPL) twenty20 title on Monday. 

The match was all about the 17-year old from Birgunj, who clobbered a 64-ball 111 lifting Tez to a challenging 171-4 in 20 overs. After an early wobble, X-Factor were right on track with skipper Gyanendra Malla and Rajesh Pulami Magar holding the innings but the former’s departure triggered a collapse that saw collapse for 131 in 17.3 overs.

Electing to bat first, Tez were stunned by an early dismissal of opener and skipper Sharad Vesawkar (two) in the first over. They also lost hard-hitting Karan KC (five) and Prithu Baskota (eight) cheaply before Aasif began to resurrect the innings with class and aggression. 

Joined by his elder brother Aarif, the U-19 national team vice-captain the Sheikh brothers forged a 47-run stand helping their side to cross triple figures in the 15th over. Aasif completed his half century, from 43 balls with a six.

Tez then lost Aarif in the next over to Yogendra Karki but Aasif continued to play his shots, smashing Karn for two more sixes in the 17th over. He then completed his century with style in the 19th smashing three successive sixes off the bowling of Amar Singh Routela.

He brought the only century in the country’s domestic Twenty20 history in just 59 balls. In Aasif’s unbroken 64-run partnership with Sonu Tamang (12), the latter was just a witness from the other end. “This is one of the best innings ever played in Twenty20 here (TU grounds) because he has done it in a final at such a big stage. He is very young and the way he has hit national bowlers shows indication of a special player,” said skipper Vesawkar who was over the moon after winning the title. 

“I am lost for words. This is a feeling that cannot be explained in words. It is a result of everyone’s hard work. We were consistent in the league stage and winning the title was special. I would like to thank everyone involved in the success,” the national team middle order batsman added.

Aasif said he had to overcome pressure to play a big innings. “The match was very crucial because of final pressure. I started by rotating strikes and dealing in singles and doubles. I am very happy to slam a century here,” said the former Under-16 national cricketer.

If Tez innings revolved around Aasif, X-Factor heavily relied on their skipper Malla whose dismissal threw them virtually out of the contest. X-Factor were 24-3 in the fourth over before Malla brought his side back in the game with a half century partnership with Rajesh Pulami. 

The 64-run stand came to an abrupt end after the X-Factor skipper Malla was trapped leg before by Dipendra Singh Airee in the 13th. X-Factor went on to lose their last seven wickets for just 33 runs. Malla top scored for his side with a 32-ball 47 with four boundaries and two sixes. 

Karan KC sealed the 

game for Tez by picking up three wickets in the 15th over including that of their second best scorer Pulami, who made 35-ball 37. KC struck two sixes Malla said: “It was almost impossible for us in our chase after we lost three wickets in the over bowled by Karan,” said the X-Factor skipper.

The tournament winners earned a cash purse of Rs 500,000. Fast bowling allrounder Sompal Kami was named the player of the series that won him a motorbike, while Aasif walked away with TB Shah Emerging Player of the Tournament.

Everest Premier League summary

Panchakanya Tez 171-4 in 20 overs (Aasif Sheikh 111*, Aarif Sheikh 23; Y Karmi 1-29, S Regmi 1-20) beat Colors X-Factor 131 in 17.3 overs (G Malla 47, RP Magar 37; Karan KC 3-21, S Kandel 2-17, S Vesawkar 2-11) by 40 runs

Man-of-the-match: Aasif Sheikh