Kathmandu wins national
Apr 7th, 2008 by admin
Kathmandu, April 6, NS report -
Region No 3 Kathmandu won the Springwood National League Cricket Tournament title by a run against the defending champion region no.4 Bhairahawa on Sunday. Kathamdu won the national first time after appearing in finals for the four times.
The match played at TU Cricket Ground was decided on the last ball with Bhairahawa falling short by just one run. Requiring 169 in 36 overs as a revised target, Bhairahawa ended at 167/9. Earlier Kathmandu on winning the toss had decided to bat and scored 199 in 49.3 overs.
Solid batting from the low order had Bhairahawa back on track at a time when they looked out of the game at 136/9. The last batsmen to come to the crease Mohan Thapa scored 29 runs off 27 balls which consisted of a four and a six, but his efforts went in vain as he could not get four off the last two balls.
Having gone into the last over with eight required, Mohan and last man Faizal Khan ran a run each in the first four balls bowled by Paras Khadka. On the last ball, the team needed four to win but Mohan managed just two runs.
Region no. 4’s Rahul Biswokarma had almost scored run a ball. He managed 36 in 37 balls with two fours and a six to take his team near the required total after the top-order failed to get good runs. Among the seven top-order batsmen, only Shakti Gauchan (24), Antim Thapa (21) and Bijaya Thapa (19) got to double figures.
Pramod Basnet got both the openers of Bhairahawa out early. back Likewise Left-arm spinner Raju Basnet too got two in the middle while Sarad took two vital wickets - of Shakti and Rahul whch ended Bhairahawa hopes of becoming only the second team after Biratnagar to defend the title.
“Rain played the spoilsport,” Bhairahawa captain Shakti said. The match was played in overcast condition and was stopped after three overs of Bhairahawa innings for rainfall and the target was revised.
Kathmandu’s skipper Paresh Lohani and Dipendra Chaudhary added 43 as openers with Dipendra scoring 35 off 48 balls. Sarad got 44 off 81 balls and Gyanendra Malla topscored with 60 off 92 balls. Sarad and Gyanendra added 91 runs for the third wicket and took Kathmandu to a competitive total.
