Pokhara Premier League: Khadka’s Rhinos in trouble

National team skipper Paras Khadka-led Chitwan Rhinos lost to Sharad Vesawkar’s Pokhara Paltan by five wickets in the Pokhara Premier League on Monday.

Having already crashed to a tournament-low 65 against Sompal Kami’s Butwal Blasters in their first match, the second consecutive defeat has now piled more pressure on Rhinos to round up inside the top three, the only way they can remain in contention for the title. Rhinos and Biratnagar Titans are now at the bottom of the table with both teams yet to open their account.

Batting first, Sunny Patel’s quickfire 46 not out lifted Rhinos to 140-5. Paltan were shell shocked after losing openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh in the first two overs without adding a single run on the board but Ravi Inder Singh and Rohit Kumar Paudel led the fightback to finally surpass the target for the loss of five wickets in 17.2 overs.

Singh and Paudel (19) put on 78 runs for the third wicket to resurrect the Paltan innings. Skipper Sharad Vesawkar then played a gritty knock and took his side close to victory with a 56-run stand for the fourth wicket. Karan KC did manage to remove both the batsmen in quick succession but by then Paltan were just six runs sigh of victory. Singh scored 65 off 48 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Vesawkar’s 20-ball 37 included three hits over the fence and three to the ropes. KC took 3-19 from four overs for Rhinos.

Paltan bowled with discipline to contain Khadka, who scored 44 off 32. It was Patel who took Rhinos close to 150-run mark smashing a 27-ball 46. Both the batsmen hit three sixes and three fours each. Sonu Tamang (21) and Anil Sah (18) also made runs in double figures. Bikram Kumar Bhushal took two wickets for Paltan. (PR)