Defending champions Pentagon International College opened their SPA Cup Inter-college National Cricket Tournament with a convincing five-wicket victory over Mahendra Namuna HS School.
Defending champions Pentagon International College of Kathmandu opened their SPA Cup Inter-college National Cricket Tournament with a convincing five-wicket victory over Mahendra Namuna HS School of Dadeldhura here on Friday.
Electing to bat first, Mahendra Namuna failed to cash in on an explosive innings from Roshan Nepali before they were 124 all out in 18.5 overs. With a star-studded line-up, Pentagon took no time in overhauling the total as Binod Bhandari bludgeoned a half century from just 31 balls guiding his team to 126-5 with 39 balls to spare.
Opener Sagar Pun took the initiative up front with a 13-ball cameo of 21 that included five boundaries. Bhandari then added 78 runs for the second wicket with Naresh Budhayer to ease the chase. When Budhayer was dismissed for a 26-ball 29 with five boundaries in 10.5 overs, Pentagon had already crossed triple figures.
Bhandari raced to 53 off 31 with five boundaries and was adjudged the man-of-the-match. Puspa Thapa (10 not out) and Nischal Pandey (four) completed the chase for Pentagon. Dipesh Shrestha, Dikshyanshu Negi and Santosh Bhatta picked up one wicket each for Mahendra Namuna.
Earlier, Mahendra Namuna lost opener Negi (five) and Dilip Nath (10) with just 25 runs on the board before Nepali and Bikram Thalal resurrected their innings. Nepali, in particular, played Pentagon’s bowlers with national team experience with an ease on his way to sharing 50-run stand.
Nepal made 44 off 28 with five boundaries and three sixes and after his leg before wicket dismissal of Pun, the Mahendra Namuna innings began to crumble.
Left arm spinner Rahul Kumar BK polished off the middle and lower middle order returning with the figures of 4-11 from 3.5 overs. Thalal was Mahendra Namuna’s next best scorer with 24 off 27 hitting two boundaries and a six. Shrestha (12) was the only remaining batsman to make runs in double figures. Chandra Saud of Pentagon made the impact in Mahendra Namuna top order returning the figures of 3-24 from four overs.
On Saturday, Xavier International College of Kathmandu will meet Sunrise HS School of Kanchanpur and New Horizon College of Butwal will be up against Kailali Multiple Campus of Dhangadhi.
Veteran cricketer Vaidhya honoured
The organisers of the SPA Cup, Sudur Paschimanchal Academy, on Friday honoured veteran cricketer Prafull Vaidhya for his contribution to the game. The 46-year old Vaidhya, who is still playing club-level cricket, has competed in several national tournaments for Kathmandu. He previously played for different clubs of Birgunj and Biratnagar. A pilot by profession, Vaidhya missed Nepal’s first ever ACC Trophy appearance in 1996 despite being in the national camp after he prioritised his job. Irrigation Minister NP Saud honoured the veteran. SPA also honoured national team coach Pubudu Dassanayake during the programme.
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