Gaurav Tomar smashed yet another half-century as Kathmandu Royals won their second consecutive match of the Pokhara Premier League on Monday.

Royals’ one of the two Indian recruits Tomar had smashed a 44-ball 95 in the team’s 17-run victory over Dhangadhi Blues on Saturday. And on Monday, the No 3 batsman again proved his worth striking a 46-ball 66 as Royals romped to a five-wicket win over Biratnagar Titans. The result meant Royals are the only other team apart from Sompal Kami’s Buwal Blasters to remain unbeaten. Blasters currently lead standings on net run-rate despite tying on four points with second-placed Pokhara Paltan and Royals.

Electing to bat first, opener Muhammad Zaid Alam scored a half century to help Titans post 149-7. Royals lost opener Jay Kishan Kolsawala early in their chase before Tomar took charge to lead his team to 151-5 in 19.2 overs. Tomar put on a crucial 64-run stand for the second wicket with Amit Shrestha, who chipped in 35 off 33 with six hits to the fence. Shahab Alam appreared to bring Titans back into the game by dismissing Shrestha and Naresh Budhayer.

But another decent partnership involving Tomar put Royals on the cusp of victory. Tomar and skipper Gyanendra Malla (17) combined for a 42-run fourth wicket stand to take the game away from. Titans stare at an early elimination after losing third successive match. Tomar struck six fours and three sixes before falling prey to Titans skipper Sandeep Lamichhane.

Earlier, Alam gave Titans the desired start adding 65 runs for the first wicket with Sunil Dhamala. Titans then lost Dhamala and Andrew Subikshan in the space of four runs. Dhamala scored 30 off 29 balls with three sixes and a four. Alam added another 47 runs with Rajesh Pulami Magar but the middle order failed to fire at the closing stages. Alam scored 67 from 47 balls with seven fours and four sixes. Magar contributed 30 off 27 with a six and a four. Man-of-the-match Tomar, Basanta Regmi and Sushan Bhari Shrestha took two wickets each for Royals.

Pokhara Premier League Summaries

Kathmandu Royals 151-5 in 19.2 overs (G Tomar 66, A Shrestha 35; S Alam 2-21, S Lamichhane 1-30) beat Biratnagar Titans 149-7 in 20 overs (MZ Alam 67, RP Magar 30, S Dhamala 30; B Regmi 2-11, S Bhari 2-19, G Tomar 2-29) by five wickets;

Man-of-the-match: G Tomar

Pokhara Paltan 146-5 in 17.2 overs (RI Singh 65, S Vesawkar 37; Karan KC 3-19, S Patel 1-12) beat Chitwan Rhinos 140-5 in 20 overs (S Patel 46*, P Khadka 44; BK Bhusal 2-33, Vesawkar 1-0) by five wickets; Man-of-the-match: RI Singh

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)