Global College and Tribhuwan University (TU) opened the University Cricket Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament with thumping wins at the TU Stadium on Tuesday.

TU crushed NEC ‘B’ by nine wickets and Global hammered Nepal Engineering Campus (NEC) ‘A’ for 10 wickets. In the inaugural match NEC ‘B’ were bowled out for 68 runs in 16.3 overs before TU replied with 72-1  in just 7.2 overs.

Only openers Prashu Joshi (14) and Dipesh Das (11) were able to score in double figures in a hapless NEC ‘B’ batting display. Man-of-the-match Pradeep Tandon was pick of the TU bowlers 4-17, while Rakesh Karn took three and Sagar  Dhakal two wickets.

TU openers Rakesh Karn and Aschal Chaudhary virtually sealed victory by with the fourth over after putting on 45 runs for the first wicket. After Bibek Yadubanshi dismissed Karn, who scored 14-ball 35 with three sixes  and as many fours, Chaudhary and Tandon completed the chase. Chaudhary  remained unbeaten on 22 and Tandon on 10.

The day’s second game saw NEC’s second team suffer even worse drubbing from Global College. NEC ‘A’ could only manage 61 in 14.4  overs with Suraj Shrestha top scoring with an entertaining  21-ball 22, which included two sixes and a four. Bikram Gurung and Kanak  Bajracharya grabbed three wickets each, while Yadav Ghale took one wicket.

In reply, opening batsman Dipesh Chand blasted an unbeaten 52 runs to steer Global College to victory in 5.4 overs. Man-of-the-match Chand clobbered nine fours and a six in his explosive 27-ball knock. His opening partner and skipper Ashish Singh chipped in just two runs in their unbroken 65-run stand.