Samsad Sheikh flicked a six in the penultimate delivery as Team Chauraha Dhangadhi edged Kathmandu Goldens by one wicket to enter the final of the Dhangadhi Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament on Tuesday.

In the first Qualifier at the SSP grounds, Gyanendra Malla-led Goldens were restricted to a below-par 127-9 in 20 overs. Goldens did bowl their heart out dragging the game until the last over before Samsad’s one-ball heroics took Chauraha to 128-9 in 19.5 overs. Goldens will now take on Mahendranagar United in the second Qualifier on Wednesday to have another shot at the final. United defeated CYC Attariya by 15 runs in the Eliminator match, also on Tuesday. United made 130-7 in 20 overs before retricting Attariya to 115-4 after their bowlers tightened the screws in the closing stages of the game.

In the first Qualifier, Chauraha lost wickets at regular intervals and it was man-of-the-match Shankar Rana who kept them in chase holding the innings despite batting down the order. Chauraha needed 10 runs to win from the final over from Rashid Khan and despite conceding three extra runs in the first ball, the medium pacer bounced back to effect the run out of Rana and get rid of Yogendra Singh Karki.

Needing six to win from the last two balls, Samsad flicked the fuller ball towards square leg for a maximum in the only ball he faced in the game. Rana made 28 from 39 with two boundaries, while Rohan Mustafa top scored with a 20-ball 33 hitting two fours and a six. Sunny Patel, Khan and Shahab Alam took two wickets each for Goldens.  

Earlier, Malla continued his fine form but was the only Goldens batsman to play with intent. He did the bulk of scoring in a 52-run stand with opener Amit Shrestha for the third wicket. Malla struck a 23-ball 38 with three fours and two sixes. Shrestha was the next best scorer, making 36 from 38 with two boundaries and a six. Pushpa Thapa (16 not out) and Bhupendra Thapa (10) were others to reach double figures.

Goldens coach Raju Basnyat blamed the defeat to a mediocre top order batting coupled with poor fielding. “Amit did make runs but he was pretty slow when we needed to up the ante and Bhupendra did the same. Additionally, we dropped two catches and that didn’t help us,” said Basnyat.

Later in the day, Karan KC’s late blitz lifted United to a total that ultimately looked safe for them. The match was well within Attariya’s reach but a disciplined bowling from spinners and a crucial 19th over from KC turned the game around. Attariya needed 23 runs from the last 12 balls but KC kept things pretty tight giving away just three runs in the 19th over. Puneet Mehra then conceded four runs in the final over to leave Attariya stunned. Attariya lost opener Prem Tamang (five) early before skipper Subash Khakurel and Gaurav Chitkara (14) consolidated the innings with a 42-run stand.

Man-of-the-match Robeen Chhetri removed both the set batsmen in a single over to halt their charge. Dipendra Singh Airee and Vipin Chandra then managed to forge a 50-run stand for the third wicket but the scoring rate was too slow that eventually put the pressure on them. Khakurel made 30 from 25 with two fours and a six. Chandra made 28 not out from 29 balls and Airee notched up a 34-ball 27. Both batsmen hit a six.

Earlier Aarif Sheikh top scored with a 37-ball 35 with five boundaries and Mehra was their next best scorer with 29-ball 26 that included two fours and a six. KC then hit crucial runs at the closing stages smashing a 13-ball 25 not out with three fours and a six. Kamal Singh Airee took two wickets for Attariya.

Summaries

Dhangadhi Team Chauraha 128-9 in 19.5 overs (R Mustafa 33, S Rana 28; S Patel 2-24, S Alam 2-30) beat Kathmandu Goldens 127-9 in 20 overs (G Malla 38, A Shrestha 36; S Kami 2-21, L Bhandari 2-32) by one wicket

Man-of-the-match: S Rana (Chauraha)

Mahendranagar United 130-7 in 20 overs (A Sheikh 35, P Mehra 26; KS Airee 2-16, K Karki 1-18) beat CYC Attariya 115-4 in 20 overs (S Khakurel 30, V Chandra 28*; R Chhetri 2-16, B Karki 1-20) by 15 runs

Man-of-the-match: R Chhetri (United)