Cricket
Sudurpaschim, Police win
Basant Khatri scored a half-century and shared a 100-run partnership with Milan Bohara for the fifth wicket as Sudurpaschim posted 144-7 in 20 overs after being sent to bat first.Sports Bureau
Sudurpaschim Province bounced back from the opening loss to defeat Province 1 by 13 runs while Nepal Police Club also pulled off their first victory with a 9-wicket demolition of Karnali Province in the men’s T20 cricket at the Ninth National Games on Sunday.
Basant Khatri scored a half-century and shared a 100-run partnership with Milan Bohara for the fifth wicket as Sudurpaschim posted 144-7 in 20 overs after being sent to bat first.
Following a 12-run loss to NRNA Sports Academy on Thursday, Sudurpaschim seemed headed to a second straight loss after their top order collapsed at the TU Cricket Ground thanks to an early show by captain Fridosh Ansari, who finished with a match figure of 17-3.
Openers Raju Rijal and Dil Bohara were out for nought and Khadak Bohara (5) and Basant Karki (4) departed cheaply as Sudurpaschim were reeling at 15-4 in the seventh over.
But Bohara hit 44 runs of 30 balls that featured four boundaries and three sixes and Khatri cracked 53 runs facing 41 deliveries that included two fours and four sixes to steady the innings.
Khatri was bowled by Dipesh Kandel, who also trapped Karki lbw, in the first delivery of the 18th over before Bohara fell casualty to Ansari in the next over.
Lokendra Chand came at number seven and chipped in 24 off 11 balls to help Sudurpaschim post a moderate target of 145.
Province 1 bowler Kamal Khatri pocketed a wicket.
In reply, Province 1 batting order, too, crumbled and they were in trouble at 6-48 in the 10th over before Ansari staged a fight back scoring 33 runs that included one four and three sixes. The skipper was caught by Bohara off Narayan Joshi in the 15th over.
Kandel (34) and Sonu Mandal (26) produced a late show but failed to reach the target as Province 1 remained winless after three matches. Their fixtures against Bagmati Province and APF Club were washed out by rain.
In the late match at the same venue, Police elected to field first and bundled Karnali for 85 runs after Dipendra Singh Airee and Lalit Rajbanshi combined for six wickets. Sagar Dhakal and Manjit Shrestha also picked two scalps each to help Police register their first win after their opening match against Madhesh Province was abandoned due to rain.
In reply, opener Kushal Bhurtel played an unbeaten 39 off 40 balls hitting five fours and a six and put on an 81-run stand with Sunil Dhamala, who scored four fours and three sixes in his 24-ball 44 as Police comfortably chased down the target in 11 overs.
Dhamala was caught by Bipin Rawal off Prakash Jaisi in the final delivery of the 10th over.
The matches between Bagmati and NRNA and Gandaki and Lumbini, both scheduled at Mulpani Cricket Ground, were called off due to rain.