Shantinagar inch closer to quarter-finals

Jan 29, 2018-Shantinagar Youth Club inched closer to the quarter-finals of the Khukuri Challenger Twenty20 cricket tournament with a 36-run victory over Ultimate Indoor Cricket in Mulpani on Sunday.

Following their second consecutive victory preceded by a rain washout, Shantinagar lead Group ‘A’ with seven points from three games. RCA Pyuthan Challengers and Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) are up next with four points each. KCTC, who edged Challengers by seven runs in the second match of the day, have played just two games.  A half century partnership between Manjeet Shrestha and Purushotam Jha guided Shantinagar to 136-9 in 20 overs. Ultimate could only mustre 100-6 with yet another disciplined bowling performance from Shantinagar.  Sunil Dhamala (2-13) and Ajay Rajbanshi (1-15) bowled miserly in their four-over spells to choke Ultimate batting. Kiran Thagunna top scored for them with a 42-ball 50 not out but other batsmen were not able to play freely.  Earlier, Dhamala top scored from the top order with a 20-ball 23 but three quick wickets from Jitendra Yadav reduced Shantinagar to 50-4. Shrestha and Jha then shared a match-winning 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket guiding the team towards what ultimately was a big total. Shrestha made hit three sixes and a four in his 40-ball 41 and Jha made 31 off 34 with three hits to the fence.

Krishna Singh Negi took four wickets for Ultimate, while Naresh Thapa also had two scalps. Dhamala was adjudged man-of-the-match.  In the second match, KCTC reached 147-5 before holding firm to restrict Challengers to 140-2. Opener Prem Tamang led the Challengers chase with a half century and forged a 95-run stand for the first wicket with Rajbir Singh who made 47 off 51 with six boundaries and a four.  Tamang kept them in game with another modest stand with Sanju Damai (24 not out). However, KCTC bowlers held firm to put Tamang’s unbeaten half century in shadow. He made 58 off 53 with six boundaries and two sixes.

KCTC innings was lifted by a 57-run unbroken stand between Sanjay Basnet and Bipin Acharya (11) after they were reduced to 90-5. Basnet made 46 off 31 with eight fours and a six. Opener Sudhir Chaudhary was their next best scorer making 32-ball 33 hitting five boundaries. Tamang had also starred with the ball taking 3-32.


Published: 29-01-2018 09:18
source: kathmandupost.ekantipur.com