National U-19 seamer Kishor Mahato produced a five-wicket haul as Chitwan Cricket Club fought back with the ball to claim the 16th Mayor’s Chitwan Championship Twenty20 cricket tournament title with a crushing 54-run victory over Kalaiya Cricket Club on Monday.

Electing to bat first in a low-scoring match at the Campachaur cricket ground, Chitwan made 109-7 in 20 overs but staged a remarkable comeback with the ball to bundle out Kalaiya for just 55 runs in 12.3 overs. Along with the title, Chitwan collected a cash purse of Rs 100,000. The runners-up got Rs 50,000. Kalaiya gave 10 percent of their cash prize to Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation which is preparing to construct Bharatpur Cricket Stadium in the district.

Mahato, who has collected a haul of experience playing the domestic franchise league and also in the age group international tournament, ripped through Kalaiya batting order returning the figures of 5-9 from 3.3 overs. Another seamer Dipesh Shrestha and man-of-the-match Mahato gave Chitwan a desired breakthrough removing openers Hashim Ansari (duck) and Amit Shrestha (duck) in the first two overs.

Kalaiya were heading towards a humiliating total losing their first seven wickets for just 12 runs but Shiva Tandukar pushed them across 50-run marking a scoring a run-a-ball 23. He hit three fours and a six. Kumar Thapa (18 off 11) was their only other batsman to make runs in double figures.

Earlier, Ram Karki had pushed Chitwan beyond triple figures making a 47-ball 31 hitting a six and a four. Shrestha also contributed with the bat making a 30-ball 26, also striking a boundary and one hit over the fence. Their total was bolstered by 17 sundries. Aadil Ansari was the pick of the Kalaiya bowlers taking 2-6 from four overs, while Ashutosh Patel returned the figures of 2-19.

Shrestha was adjudged the man-of-the-series, while Mahato and Raju Rijal of Dhangadhi Cricket Academy were adjudged the best bowler and batsmen respectively. A total of six teams had participated in the tournament organised by the Chitwan District Cricket Association.