After woeful first match for the Toronto Nationals, globe-trotting Nepali leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane came up with a much-improved performance against Montreal Tigers in the Global Twenty20 Canada cricket tournament on Monday.

The-19-year-old cricketer took one wicket but bled 44 runs in four overs as Toronto lost to Brampton Wolves by 11 runs on Saturday. It was not just Lamichhane but the entire Toronto bowling unit that suffered against Brampton, who amassed 222 runs on the board.

However, Lamichhane bounced back to help Toronto restrict Tigers for 136-9 on Monday before his team completed the chase for the loss of six wickets in 17.3 overs. Lamichhane returned with figures of 1-28 from four overs. Chris Green and Salman Nazar were pick of the Toronto bowlers with two wickets each to their credit. As many as six Tigers batsmen got starts but none went on to score big runs against a disciplined Toronto bowling. Opener Kyle

Coetzer top scored with 26 off 27 deliveries. No 9 batsman Dillon Heyliger played a nine- ball cameo to provide much needed push to the total but his 18-run contribution all went in vain.

Toronto ran into trouble after losing Rodigo Thomas (6) and Moises Henriques (1) to be 16-2 by the second over. But Chirag Suri and Heinrich Klaasen bailed their team out of the trouble putting on an invaluable 57-run stand for the third wicket. Suri fell to Sri Lankan Thisara Perera but not before scoring 52 runs. Suri clobbered seven boundaries and a six in his 37-ball knock. Klassen made 13-ball 20 with two fours and a six.

A few more wickets fell but Chris Green kept his cool to ensure victory for Toronto. Green remained unbeaten on 30, his 19-ball innings included two fours and a six. Alasdair Evans and Fawad Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece for Tigers.

The victory kept Toronto’s hopes of making it to the playoffs still alive. Toronto finished the round robin league in fourth place with four points meaning they play fourth-placed Tigers yet again on Wednesday.

The victory on Wednesday can open doors for Toronto to the four-team playoffs. Winnipeg Hawks, the team another Nepali bowler Sompal Kami plays for, set up clash with Vancouver Knights the same day. Hawks also have a chance to sneak into the playoffs provided they win on Wednesday.

Top four teams after the crossover matches between the league’s top and bottom teams will qualify for the playoffs.

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