Great Himalaya Cricket Academy (GHCA) secured a quarter-final berth in the Khukuri Challenger Twenty20 cricket tournament with five-wicket win over Tribhuvan Army Club in Mulpani on Sunday.

GHCA were indebted to their bowlers to restrict TAC for a lowly 83-9 before scampering to victory for the loss of five wickets in the 19th over. The third successive win in Group ‘C’ ensure GHCA a place in the last eight with a game to spare. Naresh Budhayer top scored for the Army team with 35, his 49-ball knock included four hits to the fence. GHCA made Army batsmen struggle for runs as Bhupendra Thapa (11) was their next best contributor. Man-of-the-match Sagar Dhakar took 4-10 in his magical four-over spell, while Kamal Singh Airee also grabbed three and Rupesh Shrivastav took two wickets for GHCA.

 Despite chasing the seeming small total, GHCA were themselves made to grind for the runs. GHCA lost two quick wickets of opener Abishek Basnet (2) and No 3 batsman Ishan Pandey (6) but Pradeep Airee remained calm to score a 45-ball 22 runs. Airee also combined with Ayushman Bam, who scored run-a-ball 22 before being run out, to add invaluable 40 runs for the third wicket to steady their ship.

Kamal Singh Airee, who scored an unbeaten 13, and Shrivastav, who remained not out on 10, completed the chase in 18.4 overs. Chandra Saud, Avinash Bohara, Sagar Pun and Rajesh Pulami took one wicket each for the Army club.

In another Group ‘C’ match, Oasis recorded their first win with an 18-run defeat of IOC Pulchowk. Batting first, Oasis scored 131-8 in their allotted 20 overs. IOC, who also have three points from one win, were bowled out for 113 in 18.2 overs. Top order all contributed in Oasis total with Susan Karki making run-a-ball 38. Roshan Pulami Magar (24), Sachin Sharma (18) and Bishnu Limbu (15) all chipped in what turned out to be the valuable runs. Sagar Thapa Chhetri took three and Sushil Bhatta claimed two wickets for IOE.

IOE were left ruing for not capitalising on good starts made by as many as four top-order batsmen—Aadiya Poudel (18) Achyut Thapa Magar (14), Sagar Thapa (17) and Amit Kushwaha 13). A late 14-run cameo from Bhatta only helped narrow the defeat margin. Bhatta struck two sixes in his four-ball 14. Man-of-the-match Nitesh Thapa grabbed 4-19 and Sachin Sharma took 2-16 for Oasis.