An allround performance from skipper Sharad Vesawkar helped Biratnagar Kings beat national team skipper Paras Khadka-led Dhangadi Team Chauraha  by 23 runs, while Kathmandu Goldens defeated Kanchanpur Iconic by 24 runs in the Dhangadi Premier League (DPL) on Tuesday. 

Biratnagar posted 134-6 and restricted Dhangadi Chauraha for 111-9 in the  twenty20 tournament. Put into bat at the SSP Cricket grounds, Biratnagar made a steady start but lost three quick wickets of Amit Shrestha (19),  Aasif Sheikh (10 and Dipendra Singh Airee (0) in the space of seven runs to be 38-3 by the 10th over.

But the national team stalwart Vesawkar played stroke-filled knock to help his side post a decent total on the board. Vesawkar lost his wicket in the  last ball of their innings in an attempt to go for a big shot after scoring 46 runs. The skipper clobbered four fours and two sixes in his 32-ball knock. 

Anil Sah was their next best contributor with 17-ball 28 runs and Pranit Thapa Magar made 14-ball 21. Lalit Rajbanshi took two, while Susan Bhari, Ramnaresh Giri and Aarif  Sheikh claimed one wicket each for Chauraha.

In reply, Chauraha found runs hard to come by as No 6 batsman Amar Singh Reutela top scored for the side with 26 and opener Anil Kumar Mandal battled to a 38-ball 24. Batting at No 4, skipper Khadka was out for two runs as Chauraha fell way short of their target. Man-of-the-match Vesawkar and Sushil Kandel claimed three wickets each, while Jitendra Mukhiya took two for Biratnagar.

In the day’s second game, Kathmandu Goldens scored 147-7 thanks to a late cameo from man-of-the-match Bhuwan Karki before restricting Kanchanpur Iconic for 123-9. Goldens were struggling at 92-6 by the 16th over but a rampant 36-run knock from tailender Karki lifted their total to 147. Karki slammed five boundaries and two sixes in his unbeaten 14-ball cameo. Opener Shubhendu  Pandey’s 19 runs was their second best individual score. Avinash Karn grabbed three, while Kamal Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Sunil Dhamala and Sonu Tamang snared one wicket each.

Iconic appeared to be right on track at 72-2 by the 11th over but a spectacular collapse saw the team restrict to 123-9. Opener Sagar Pun top scored with 41-ball 40 with six hits to the fence. Pun’s opening partner Sunil Dhamala (14) and No 3 batsman Hasim Ansari (18) both got starts but failed to built their innings. Apart from the top three batsmen, no one except for No 10 Karn (13 not out) scored in double figures.

Goldens skipper Basanta Regmi and Santosh Bhatta claimed two wickets  each, while Sompal Kami, Manjeet Shrestha and Jhora grabbed one wicket  apiece. Man-of-the-match Karki failed to take a wicket but was economical in his four-over spell that cost him just 14 runs.

Summary

Kathmandu Goldens 147-7 in 20 overs (B Karki 36*, S Pandey 19; A Karn 3-28, S Dhamala 1-8) beat Kanchanpur Iconic 123-9 in 20 overs (Sagar Pun 40, Hasim Ansari 18; S Bhatta 2-11, B Regmi 2-12;) by 24 runs 

Man-of-the-match: B Karki (Kathmandu Goldens)    

Biratnagar Kings 134-6 in 20 overs (S Vesawkar 46, A Sah 28; L Rajbanshi 2-25, R Giri 1-16) beat Dhangadi Team Chauraha 111-9 in 20 overs (A Routel 26, A Mandal 24; S Vesawkar 3-20, S Kandel 3-23) by 23 runs

Man-of-the-match: S Vesawkar