Rautahat Rising XI and Makwanpur Cricket Club won their second consecutive matches of the Khukuri Challenger Twenty20 cricket tournament at the Mulpani Cricket Ground on Thursday.

In the Group ‘D’ matches, Rautahat overshadowed a fine century partnership for the opening wicket between Sushant Singh Thapa and Rabindra Jung Shahi to beat Tikapur Cricket Club by eight runs. Makwanpur eased to a seven-wicket victory over Butwal Cricket Boys. Thursday’s both winners now have six points each from two matches.

Put in to bat first, Rautahat rode on a century partnership between openers Aashu Kandoi and Aschal Chaudhary to make 167-4 in 20 overs. Thapa and Shahi also replied with century stand but Rautahat held their nerves in the closing stages to restrict Tikapur to 159-6.

Thapa and Shahi gave Tikapur a brisk start adding 105 runs for the first wicket. Shahi made 81 off 59 with five boundaries and Thapa hit four sixes and as many fours in his 37-ball 54. Shahi had kept Tikapur in the game taking his team close to finishing line but once he lost his wicket, other batsmen caved in under pressure.

Earlier, Chaudhary and Kandoi also put on 110-run opening wicket partnership to lay the foundation for Rautahat. Man-of-the-match Kandoi made 76 off 65 with 11 fours and two sixes, while Chaudhary chipped in 36 from 32 with four hits to the fence. Shankar Patel played an eight-ball cameo of 21 with two sixes and as many boundaries.

In the second match of the day, Bishal Bhandari’s half century guided Butwal to 157-4 but a quickfire knock from Hashim Ansari steered Makwanpur to 158-3 with nine balls to spare. Ansari, who shared 64 runs for the second wicket with Rabi Thapa, remained unbeaten on 72 from just 43 balls hitting eight boundaries and three sixes. 

Thapa contributed 36 off 30 with five fours and a six. Suraj Patel (22) was their next notable scorer. Bishal Bhujel took two wickets for Butwal. Earlier, Bhandari had consolidated the Butwal innings with a 68-run stand for the second wicket with opener Dev Khanal. He was also involved in a 69-run fourth wicket partnership with Tul Bahadur Thapa. 

A day after hitting 22-ball 68 with 10 hits over the fence against Rautahat, Thapa continued his ominous form hitting another 20-ball 40 not out with four sixes and two boundaries. Bhandari made 52 off 56 with six boundaries and Khanal struck five fours in his 32-ball 34. Ashim Shrestha took two wickets for Makwanpur.