Pokhara Rhinos crushed Chitwan Tigers by 10 wickets as Paras Khadka-led Biratnagar Warriors eked out a six-run win over his national team deputy Gyanendra Malla’s Lalitpur Patriots on the second day of the Everest Premier League (EPL) Twenty20 cricket on Tuesday.

Rhinos, led by national team veteran left arm spinner Shakti Gauchan, had the most convincing victory as they hammered Chitwan Tigers by 10 wickets after their Pakistani recruits played key role in the team’s victory. Israrullah, who plays for Peshawar Panthers in the Pakistani Super League, picked up four wickets and was ably supported by his compatriot Taj Wali as Rhinos restricted Tigers to 113-9. Israrullah returned as opener and hammered 61 unbeaten runs leading the team to 116 without loss in reply.

Rhinos skipper Gauchan was over the moon after the victory but wanted his boys to remain grounded. “We know that our Pakistani players are really good and I must say we have a perfect start. We have to carry on with this momentum,” said Gauchan. Another opener Sunil Dhamala also struck 46 off 54 balls but it was Israrullah who left Tigers out of sorts with his powerful hitting. The left-hander smashed six sixes and a four in his 52-ball knock. Dhamala hit three fours and two sixes.

Tigers had failed to build on a solid partnership between Anil Mandal and stand-in skipper Dipendra Singh Airee after Israrullah removed both the set batsmen. Tigers were 10-2 before Mandal and Airee rescued their team with a 67-run third wicket stand. Man-of-the-match Israrullah then picked up four quick wickets as Tigers lost their last eight wickets for 36 runs.

Dipendra top scored for them with 42 from 32 balls with six boundaries and a six, while Mandal made a 44-ball 32 with three fours and a six. Wali also picked up 3-21.

Later in the day, Warriors made the most of their long batting lineup to post a tournament-high 150-6, thanks to a solid partnership in the middle order between Khadka and Anil Sah. Warriors then overcame a similar partnership between opener Pawan Sarraf and Yogesh Nagar to restrict Patriots to 144-4.

Patriots went through an early wobble after losing opener Jaykishan Kolsawala (12) and skipper Malla (one) in the space of one run to be at 19-2 in 3.2 overs. Sarraf resurrected the innings with Nagar and combined for a 77-run stand for the third wicket bringing Patriots back into the game. However, both the set batsmen lost their wickets in the space of 10 runs as Warriors began to strangle the middle order. “At the beginning, it seemed like we were going for an easy win but it turned out to be an evenly fought contest. Hats off to our bowlers for the way they bowled in the death overs. They were exceptional today,” said Khadka.

Nagar was first to go, losing his wicket to Khadka after making 27 from 31 balls with three boundaries. Sarraf hit Anshuman Rath for two consecutive boundaries and reached his half century but was out the next ball for a 47-ball 51. Overall, he hit six boundaries and a six. Patriots were still in the hunt after losing Sarraf, needing 45 to win from the last five overs.

Warriors bowlers held firm and managed to get through the closing stages without much trouble. Warriors had lost opener Aasif Sheikh (four) early but their Hong Kong duo Babar Hayat and Rath (14) consolidated the innings with 32-run partnership. Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed both the batsmen reducing Warriors to 68-3 in nine overs.

Khadka and Sah led the charge from the middle order with an 80-run stand for the fourth wicket. Man-of-the-match Sah played fluently to make 47 from 35 balls hitting three sixes and a four, while Khadka scored 36-ball 38 with two sixes. Hayat chipped in 34 from 25 with five boundaries and a six.

Summaries

Pokhara Rhinos 116-0 in 17.4 overs (Israrullah 61 not out, S Dhamala 46 not out; LS Bhandari 0-12) beat Chitwan Tigers 113-9 in 20 overs

(DS Airee 42, A Mandal 32; Israrullah 4-22, T Wali 3-21) by 10 wickets

Man-of-the-match: Israrullah

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Biratnagar Warriors 150-6 in 20 overs (A Sah 47, P Khadka 38; S Lamichhane 2-29, S Bhati 1-28) beat Lalitpur Patriots 144-4 in 20 overs (P Sarraf 51, Y nagar 27; B Regmi 1-17,

P Khadka 1-15) by six runs

Man-of-the-match: A Sah