KATHMANDU, OCT 03 -

Tribhuvan Army Club and Biratnagar bagged wins in the Pepsi Standard Chartered Twenty20 National Cricket Tournament on Wednesday.

The Army made the light work of Kathmandu with a 10-wicket victory. The departmental team, who won the toss and put Kathmandu in first, bundled out their opposition for just 81 runs in 18.5 overs. Pawan Shrestha and Suraj KC, who scored 19 runs each, were the only ones to show some resistance in an otherwise sorry Kathmandu performance with the bat. Rahul Vishwakarma took 3 wickets for just 11 runs, while Lokendra Chand was as effective also scalping 3 wickets, giving away just 16 runs in his four overs.

In reply, openers Sagar Pun and Anil Mandal shared an unbeaten partnership of 84 runs as the Army raced to the target for no loss with 9.4 overs to spare. Pun made 37, while Mandal contributed 32 runs.

In the day’s other match, Biratnagar defeated Pokhara by 19 runs.

Put into bat, Biratnagar scored 131 for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs. Sunny Pun topscored with 51, while Mehboob Alam smashed 22 of just 11 balls. Dipesh Khatri was the pick of the Pokhara bowlers, bagging 3 wickets for 18 runs, with Sushil Kandel lending able support taking 2 wickets giving away 21 runs.

Chasing 132 for victory, Dipesh Khatri’s quickfire 55 off 43 balls and Rijan Prajoo’s 35 runs went in vain as Pokhara were restricted to 112 for 6. Anup Karki, pushpa Thapa, Suresh Guragain, Manjeet Shrestha and Mehboob Alam all scalped a wicket apiece for Biratnagar.

The win put the Army on the Group A pole with 8 points, two above second placed Kathmandu. In Group B, Armed Police Force are currently on top with 9 points, with Birgunj only a point behind. Top two teams from each group qualify for the semi finals.

Posted on: 2013-10-03 08:54