Yogenda Singh Karki was the unlikely hero with an allround performance as Lalitpur Patriots pipped Kathmandu Kings XI by one wicket in a last-ball thriller to reach the final of the Everest Premier League at the TU Stadium on Tuesday.

In the first Qualifier, Kings XI almost defended a low total but Karki held his nerves in the last over to steer his team to the final. In Saturday’s final, Patriots will play the winner of Thursday’s second Qualifier match that will involve Kings XI. The other team will include the winner of Wednesday’s Eliminator game between Bhairahawa Gladiators and Chitwan Tigers.

Electing to field first, young spinner Pawan Sarraf and Karki took three wickets apiece to skittle out Kings XI for just 108 runs in 19.5 overs. Patriots had a topsy-turvy ride in its chase before Karki’s late heroics saw it reply with 109-9 in the last ball of the day. Patriots lost its in-form Indian opening pair of Gaurav Tomar (one) and Jaykishan Kolsawala (seven) with just 20 runs on the board before Malla (19) and Sarraf (20) tried bring Patriots back into the game with a 26-run stand. Malla scored 21 off 22 with four boundaries before falling leg before wicket (LBW) to Samsad Sheikh.

Indian leg-spinner Pradeep Sahu came in to bowl the 11th over and changed the complexion of the game. Sahu removed Sarraf in the first ball and trapped Sandeep Jora (duck) LBW in the third. Next ball, Sahu sent back Sunny Patel, who was controversial given LBW and the batsman initially refused to leave the field.

From 54-6, Kushal Bhurtel and Karki shared important 37 runs taking Patriots close to victory before skipper Rohan Mustafa got rid of the former. Patriots then lost Bhurtel, Sonu Tamang and Surya Tamang in a space of 10 balls as the match turned into its head with Karki the only final hope.

Patriots needed nine runs from the last over and it began with a run out of Surya when Karki scampered for the second run. Jitendra Mukhiya bowled a dot in the second ball but Karki sailed the team home sprinting for four doubles in the next four deliveries with Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi.

Bhurtel top scored for Patriots with a 27-ball 29 with a six and a four. Karki remained unbeaten on 28 off 29 balls. Sahu finished with the miserly figures of 3-11 in four overs. Skipper Rohan Mustafa and Kevin O’Brien also took two wickets each.

Earlier, Mustafa and Sagar Pun steadied Kings XI with a 39-run second wicket stand. Mustafa then got in a terrible mix up with Pun to run himself out. Mustafa made 32 off 20 hitting three fours and two sixes.

Rajbanshi put Patriots ahead getting the prized scalp of O’Brien as Kings XI struggled after his departure. Pun, who came in the fourth over and didn’t get much of the strike before getting dismissed in the 19th, made 29 off 30 hitting a six and a four. Siddhant Lohani chipped in 16 off 24 with two boundaries. Sarraf was economical in his 2-18 from four overs.

Malla questions ‘unfair’  decisions of umpires

The first Qualifier of the Everest Premier League invited some controversy after Lalitpur Patriots skipper Gyanendra Malla questioned the level of umpiring in the tournament. Patriots on Tuesday secured a place in the final beating Kathmandu Kings XI by one wicket but Malla was not satisfied with umpire’s decision.

“Officials appears to be fearless in imposing fines and penalties but quality of umpiring has remained miserable despite our repeated plea to improve their standard,” said Malla. “Anyone including referees are prone to making mistakes but there in excuse when one commits repeated blunders,” said Malla referring to two ‘wrong decisions’ that almost cost them the match on Tuesday. Malla claimed that he was given out leg before wicket despite getting an inside edge while his teammate Sunny Patel was given caught behind off Pradeep Sahu despite the television replays suggesting the ball never touched bat.

Patel, who showed long resentment initially refusing to leave the pitch, ended up facing charge for behaving against the spirit of the game. He was charged under Level 2 offence and imposed a sanction of 75 percent match fee and three demerit points. Malla said showing a lengthy dissent was not good but then called for umpires to also show their worth.  Malla said that he was also wrongfully given not out verdict when he had a faint edge against Kevin O’Brien.

Summary

Lalitpur Patriots 109-9 in 20 overs (K Bhurtel 29, Y Karki 28*; P Sahu 3-11, K O’Brien 2-21, R Mustafa 2-23) beats Kathmandu Kings XI 108 in 19.5 overs (R Mustafa 32, S Pun 29; P Sarraf 3-13, Y Karki 3-18, S Patel 2-18) by one wicket

Man-of-the-match: YS Karki