Cricket
Biratnagar Super Kings registered their second win in the Nepal T20 League with an eight-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers at the TU Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Chasing 136 runs for victory, Biratnagar reached the target in 18.4 over losing just two wickets.
With this win, Biratnagar have climbed up to third place in the standing on four points. Pokhara are without a win in five matches.
Vice-captain Rohit Poudel carried the bat after making 71 runs off 57 balls with six fours and three sixes. He has become the third Nepali batter and 10th overall to score a fifty in the league.
Kushal Malla (61) of Pokhara Avengers and top scored with 61 runs for Pokhara Avengers an innings of 61 runs against Lumbini All Stars and Asif Shaikh played an innings of 50 runs against Janakpur Royals.
Biratnagar suffered an early setback, as opener Arjun Saud failed without scoring. However, Poudel and Gauranshu Sharma shared 78 runs for the second wicket and laid the foundation for an easy victory. Sharma was bowled by Indian speedster Zahir Khan for 33 runs.
Poudel was then joined by Hussain Talat and the two took the team home with an unfinished 78-run partnership for the third wicket. Talat remained unbeaten on 28 runs with three fours off 23 balls.
Amir Hamza and Zahir Khan took one wicket each for Pokhara.
Earlier, Pokhara made 135 for six in 20 overs after they were put in to bat.
Hamza scored unbeaten with 37 runs off 25 balls with a four and three sixes.
Opener Sumit Maharjan was cut and bowled by Andre McCarthy for 26 runs off 25 balls with two fours and a six.
Upul Tharanga was dismissed for 25 runs off 24 balls with two fours and a six.
McCarthy bowled Siddhant Lohani for nine and Kushal Malla for one run. Sharad Bhesawkar scored two runs in six balls and was bowled by Nandan Yadav. Pratish GC remained unbeaten on 13 runs off eight balls with two fours.
Andre McCarthy of Biratnagar took three wickets for 23 runs in four overs. Nandan Yadav, Raj Rakki and Sahab Alam took one wicket each.
Pokhara, reeling at the bottom, will need to win all five remaining games to have any chance of making it to the playoffs which will be contested among the top four sides.
Lumbini are currently at the top position with perfect eight points from four matches. Kathmandu Knights are in second place with four points from three matches, while Biratnagar Super Kings are in third place with four points from four matches.
Janakpur Royals are a place below Biratnagar in fourth with four points due to inferior run rate. Far West United are fifth place with two points.
