KATHMANDU, Oct 28: A captain's knock from Dipendra Singh Airee guided Sudurpashchim Royals to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 146 runs, Sudurpashchim reached 146/4 in 16.5 overs with 19 balls to spare.
Captain Dipendra led from the front with an unbeaten 51 off 36 balls, striking four fours and two sixes. He shared a match-winning 74-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ishan Pandey after Sudurpashchim had slipped to 56/3.
NPL: Royals set 154-run target for Avengers
Ishan made a valuable 37 off 31 balls, including two fours and two sixes. After he was trapped lbw by Mehidy Hasan in the 16th over, Sherfane Rutherford arrived at the crease and finished the chase with an unbeaten eight runs off four deliveries, including a six.
Sudurpashchim had an early setback when opener Binod Bhandari was dismissed for four in the first over. Fellow opener Saif Zaib scored 15 off 16 balls before being run out, while Brandon McMullen contributed a quickfire 22 off 12 balls with two fours and a six.
For Pokhara, Shakib Al Hasan claimed 1/24 from four overs, while Dhananjaya Lakshan and Mehidy Hasan took one wicket each.
Earlier, Pokhara Avengers, who were asked to bat first after losing the toss, posted 145/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Arjun Gharti top-scored with an unbeaten 40 off 25 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six. Mehidy Hasan contributed 32 runs, captain Kushal Bhurtel added 21, and Shakib chipped in with 14.
For Sudurpashchim, spinner Anil Kharel was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/23 from three overs. Dipendra also impressed with the ball, returning figures of 1/21 from four overs. Hemant Dhami and Scott Kuggeleijn claimed one wicket apiece.
