Kathmandu Knights and Lumbini All Stars began the NepalT20 Cricket League campaign with easy wins here at the TU Stadium today.
The tournament finally got underway following three postponements with a short opening ceremony. Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwor Jung Gahatraj inaugurated the tournament before the teams took to the field for a 19-over-a-side match.
In the first match, the Knights defeated Pokhara Avengers by 26 runs. Batting first, the Knights posted 162-6 before restricting the Avengers to 136-7. The Knights were reduced to 48-5 in 8.4 overs before Azmatullah Omarzai and Sunam Gautam shared a 114- run partnership for the unbroken sixth wicket to help their team post fighting total.
Player-of-the-match Omarzai from Afghanistan remained unbeaten on 85 off just 42 balls with the help of three fours and seven sixes, while Gautam struck two fours in his 28-ball 27 not out.
Pratis GC and Zahir Khan took two wickets each for the Avengers, while Mousom Dhakal bagged one.
In reply, Avengers opener Upul Tharanga fought the lonely battle scoring 44 off 34 balls that included six fours. Aarif Sheikh was the next best with run-a-ball 20. Abinash Bohara was pick of the Kinghts bowlers with 3-29, while Basir Ahamad took 2-17 and Anil Kharel grabbed one wicket.
In another match, Lumbini All Stars beat Far West United by 67 runs. Batting first, the All Stars posted 152-7 in their allotted 20 overs before packing Far West for 85 runs in 16.2 overs. The All Stars lost Unmukt Chand (two) and Kushal Bhurtel (seven) with just 28 runs on the board before skipper Dipendra Singh Airee and opener Lahiri Milantha revived the innings with a 84- run partnership for the third wicket.
Player-of-the-match Milantha top scored with 50-ball 60 that included eight boundaries and a six, while Airee hit two fours and a six in his 38- ball 35. Gulsan Jha struck three sixes in his 10-ball 25, while Bipul Sharma contributed 12 with the help of two fours.
Karan KC (3-33) and Umair Ali (3-30) shared six wickets for Far West.
In reply, Far West were reduced to 20-3 in 3.1 overs, while they lost last seven wickets in the space of 30 runs. In between, opener Hashmatullah Shahidi and Binod Bhandari (13) shared a 30-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Skipper Shahidi scored 35 off 44 balls hitting two fours, while Bhandari struck the lone six of their innings in his 11-ball knock. All Star skipper Airee returned to take 3-6 from 2.2 overs, while Sagar Dhakal grabbed 2-17. Pat Brown, Kishore Mahato and Bipul Sharma bagged one wicket each.
A total of six franchise-based teams are taking part in the premier T20 league organised by Cricket Association of Nepal under the auspices of Seven3Sports.
Out of the total cash purse of Rs 10.25 million, top four teams will get Rs 5.5 million, three million rupees, one million rupees and Rs 500,000 respectively. The player of the series will get Rs 500,000, the best batter and bowler earn Rs 250,000 each and emerging player receive Rs 180,000.
