Tri Chandra Campus knocked out Nepal Bon College from the group stage of the College Cricket League Twenty20 as Himalayan College registered a thrilling victory over Nepal Commerce Campus on Monday.

In the first match at the TU grounds, NCC blew away a solid position to lose to Himalayan by 12 runs. Put in to bat first, experienced national bowler Bhuwan Karki halted Himalayan’s charge restricting them to 136-9 in 20 overs.

Another national cricketer Ameet Shrestha led a perfect NCC reply sharing 71 runs for the first wicket with Sushant Timalsina in 11 overs before Himalayan clawed their way back in the game once they removed both the openers. Shrestha was out for a 35-ball 46 with seven boundaries and a six, while Timalsina made 27 off 40 with one hit to the fence.

Himalayan bowled their heart out in the last two overs where NCC needed 23 runs. Rupesh Singh conceded just eight runs in the penultimate over and Abhiraj Roy gave away just two in the final. Mayank took 2-22 from four overs and man-of-the-match Singh, who also made 18 runs, took 1-17.

Himalayan had identical start with Dinesh Adhikari and Aschal Chaudhary (18) adding 46 runs for the first wicket before Karki provided the breakthrough dismissing the former. Karki took 3-19 from four overs to contain the Himalayan middle order. Adhikari made 27 off 23 with three fours and a six. Pankaj Das also added 22 off 20 with two sixes and a four.

Later in the day, Tri Chandra amassed tournament’s second highest 173-6 in 20 overs and courtesy a six-wicket haul from Sagar Bhandari crushed Bon College by 89 runs. Fast bowler Bhandari was the difference as Bon College were dismissed for 84 in 19.4 overs. Jay Saud (14) was the only notable performer for Bon who lost their first match by 112 runs to Kathmandu University. Man-of-the-match Bhandari returned with figures of 6-9 from three overs.

Earlier, national cricketer Dilip Nath led Tri Chandra top order making a 23-ball 42 with three sixes and as many boundaries. Tri Chandra were 59-3 before Puran BK and Shiva Kansakar consolidated the innings with a 59-run partnership.

BK was unbeaten on 45 off 35 with five hits to the fence. Kansakar contributed 35 off 25 with four boundary and a six. Younten Lama, Palden Lama and Prasidha took a wicket each for Bon College.