Dhangadi Team Chauraha pulled off a remarkable six-wicket win over table-topper Rupandehi Challengers to secure the fourth and final playoff berth in the Dhangadi Premier League at the SSP Cricket Grounds on Monday.

Victory alone would not have been sufficient for Chauraha to seal the fourth and final playoff berth, they also required to immensely improve on their net run-rate to pip Kanchanpur Iconic. The did exactly that. Half their job was done by restricting Rupandehi for 91-6 before replying with 97-4 in 11 overs to secure the playoff. In fact, Chauraha had to chase down the 92-run target in 14.3 overs.

The victory was set up by an excellent bowling from left-arm spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, who took 4-5 in four overs with two maidens, to  restrict Rupandehi to a low total. His effort was backed up by skipper Paras Khadka, who made a timely return to form after going through rough patches since his return to cricket from an appendicitis operation to score an explosive 42 runs to help chase the target quickly than desired. Khadka credited the victory exclusive to his bowlers. “We played the way we were required to qualify for the playoff,” said Khadka adding that his side has found the stride in the last two games.

The result meant Chauraha, who had just two points coming into the fifth and final match of the league round, pipped Kanchanpur on net run-rate to finish fourth despite being tied on four points. Kanchanpur joined CYC Attariya on the sidelines. Chauraha will now play the Eliminator against the third-placed Kathmandu Goldens on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, top two teams Rupandehi and Biratnagar Kings will clash in the first Qualifier with the winners to make it to the final. The losers of the first Qualifier will play against the winners of the Eliminator match for a place in the final.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Rupandehi were pegged back early on by the team possessed with a mission. Man-of-the-match Rajbanshi triggered the Rupandehi collapse taking three wickets in the fourth over as the table-toppers were reduced to 16-3. Rajbanshi had Shankar Rana caught by Ramnaresh Giri in the first ball, dismissed Nurdhoj Sen in the third and sent Hari Shanker Shah packing in the sixth ball. Rupendhi also lost Pushpa Thapa without adding any run to the total to be 16-4.

Only a fine knock from Prakash KC gave some respectability to the  Rupandehi total. KC clobbered four fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 49 runs off 34 balls. Apart from Rajbanshi, Sushan Bhari and Saurav Khanal  took one wicket each.

Needing to overhaul the target inside 14.3 overs to ensure their qualification, top order Chauraha batsmen Raju Rijal (13), Amar Singh  Rautela (13) and Anil Kumar Mandal (8) tried big shots and lost their wickets. The national team skipper Khadka then took the matter on his own hands, clobbering seven boundaries and two sixes in his whirlwind 42-run knock in 21 balls. With the scores tied, Prithu Baskota completed the chase with a six. Shahab  Alam took two, while Krishna Karki and Durgesh Gupta claimed one wicket each.

Summary

Chauraha 97-4 in 11 overs (P Khadka 42, P Baskota 15*; S Alam 2-36, 

K Karki 1-24) beat Rupandehi 91-6 (Prakash KC 49*; LN Rajbanshi 

4-5, S Bhari 1-13, S Khanal 1-13) by 

six wickets

Man-of-the-match: LN Rajbanshi  

Standings

Team    P    W    L    NR    Pts    NRR

Rupandehi    5    4    1    0    8    +0.760

Biratnagar    5    3    2    0    6    -0.127

Kathmandu    5    2    3    0    4    +0.440

Chauraha    5    2    3    0    4    -0.036

Kanchanpur    5    2    3    0    4    -0.313

Attariya    5    2    3    0    4    -0.834