Expert Dhangadi and Butwal Blaster registered narrow victories in their opening matches of the Pokhara Premier League T20 cricket tournament at the Pokhara grounds on Monday.

Dhangadi pulled a narrow five-run win over Biratnagar Titans in the early kick-off. The Blasters edged Kathmandu Golden Warriors in the super over after the scores were tied at 140, inflicting the second defeat on the national skipper Gyanendra Malla-led side. Kathmandu Golden had suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Pokhara Paltan in the league’s inaugural match on Sunday.

In the super over, the Blasters scored 12 runs before restricting Kathmandu Golden for just two runs. Indian batsman Harsh Tonk hit two fours against compatriot Suboth Bhati for the Blasters in the third and fourth balls of the over and picked a quick single on the next delivery. Shivam Singh, who came to open the over, added three runs.

Right-arm medium pacer Abinash Bohara, who came to bowl for Blasters, conceded just two runs in the second ball of the over to Gaurav Tomar. He removed the Indian batsman on the third ball.

Kathmandu Golden, invited to make the first use of the pitch, were off to a decent start as the opening pair of Indian batsman Jaykrishan Kolsawal (28) and Subash Khakurel (15) shared 38 runs before the latter was run out.

Kathmandu Gold then lost two quick wickets to find themselves at 3-50 in the ninth over. Apart from skipper Malla (15) and Aadil Khan (23), the rest of the batsmen failed to give stability as Kathmandu Golden tottered at 6-89.

It was the unbeaten 51-run seventh-wicket partnership between Pawan Sarraf (37) and Amar Routela (14) that helped Kathmandu Golden post a respectable total. Sarraf hit three fours and two sixes in his 21-ball knock.

Nitesh Thapa of the Blasters took two wickets, while Bohara and Hari Chauhan claimed one scalp each.

The Blasters too had a shaky start to their run chase, losing their first wicket at 26 runs. They were in deeper trouble as they lost the second at 47. But Tonk played a crucial knock of 45 runs off 29 deliveries to lift the innings. He hit three fours and as many sixes and was later declared man of the match.

Singh was the other major contributor for the Blasters, as he hit two boundaries and three sixes off 21 balls to remain unbeaten on 33. He scored seven runs in the last over, including a six in the fourth and a single in the next ball to tie the scores. But Bipin Khatri was stumped by Kolsawal in the last ball of the over and the match headed for a super over.

Kathmandu Golden's Bhati and Sushan Bhari grabbed two wickets each.

Earlier In the day, the Dhangadi outfit managed 117-8 in their 20 overs after being put into bat. Kamal Singh Airee top scored for Dhangadi remaining unbeaten at 26 runs, while Srimantha Wijeyeratne made 25 runs.

Shahab Alam was the pick of the Biratnagar bowlers as he snared three wickets for 30 runs. Noman Khan claimed two wickets, while Kishore Mahato, Puneet Mehra and Muhammad Zaid Alam shared a wicket each.

Chasing an apparently a small total of 118, Biratnagar fell short by five runs as they could muster only 112-9. They were in trouble early on after both openers Muhammad Zaid Alam and Dilip Nath fell for a duck in the first over.

Pradeep Airee (10) and Sunil Dhamala (18) added 29 runs for the third wicket. Dhamala’s departure saw Biratnagar languishing at 32-3. Wickets kept tumbling for Biratnagar at regular intervals.

Raju Rijal top scored for the Titans with 25 runs, but he could not help his team from the slide. Dipendra was Dhangadi’s most successful bowler with three wickets in his four overs, giving away 19 runs. Sagar Dhakal claimed two, while Kamal, Amit Yadav and Anil Kharel shared a wicket apiece.