Shantinagar Youth Club entered the quarter-finals of the Khukuri Challenger Twenty20 cricket tournament with a six-run victory over Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) on Tuesday.

In the Group ‘A’ match at the Mulpani Cricket Ground, Shantinagar made 159-6 in 20 overs on the back of a half century from man-of-the-match Amit Shrestha. They then restricted KCTC to 153-6. In another Group ‘A’ game, RCA Pyuthan Challengers routed Malpokhari Cricket Club by 117 runs to remain in pole position to grab the second spot from the pool.

Unbeaten Shantinagar finished as group winners with 10 points from four games that included a rain washout. Challengers are second with seven points from four games and are ahead of KCTC by three points. KCTC play fourth-placed Ultimate Indoor cricket in their final group game and will need a big margin victory to topple Challengers.

Shrestha rescued his side from 89-5 adding 57 runs for the sixth wicket with Kushal Bhurtel. Shrestha made 51 off 52 and Bhurtel struck a 16-ball 25 with both batsmen hitting five boundaries each. Nandan Yadav and Adil Khan took two wickets each for KCTC.

Opener Sudhir Chaudhary made some quick runs scoring 27 off 16 giving KCTC a desired start but they were soon reduced to 50-3. Bibek Rana Magar and Khan brought KCTC back in the game with a 71-run stand. However, Mukund Yadav got rid of both the batsmen in the space of six runs as KCTC pegged back. Sanjay Basnet produced some late fireworks smashing three sixes in his 12-ball 25 not out but Shantinagar held their nerves.

Rana Magar made 41 off 34 with four boundaries and a six, while Khan struck 39 off 29 with three hits over the fence and one boundary. Sunil Dhamala also took two wickets for Shantinagar.

Earlier in the day, Challengers’ top three batsmen ran riot against Malpokhari bowling attack posting a tournament-high 193-3. Rajbir Singh alone smashed seven sixes and as many boundaries in a 58-ball 93 not out. Man-of-the-match Singh then returned to take 4-15 as Malpokhari were 76 all out in 16.4 overs. Yagyaman Kumal polished off the tail picking up three wickets. Gaurav Katwal (24 not out) was the only Malpokhari batsman to stage some fight.

After Shubhendu Pandey was out hitting a 20-ball 45 with seven boundaries and two sixes, Singh punished Malpokhari bowlers sharing 98 runs for the second wicket with Prem Tamang (39).