DCA Dhangadhi has strengthened its chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Arjuna Trophy national cricket tournament. The host team registered a thrilling 5-run victory over Boston Academy Jhapa on Tuesday.
Dhangadhi won the toss and scored 143 runs losing 8 wickets in 20 overs at Phapla Cricket Ground. Jhapa could score only 138 runs losing 7 wickets in scheduled 20 overs. This is Dhangadhi's second win in 3 matches.
Friends Youth Club Dadeldhura are on top after winning both their first matches. After losing the first two matches, Jhapa has been eliminated from the semi-final race. Ghodaghodi has lost 1 game by 11 goals. The team has 2 games left to play.
Jhapa needed 13 runs in the last over to win. Avinash Singh hit a six off Bhojraj Bhatt in the last two balls to score 12 runs. But it was Bhojraj who kept the last ball off stump and gave Dhangadhi a thrilling victory without giving any runs.
Deepu Bhujel scored 38 runs, Arun Airi and Rohan Bick scored 26 runs and Ramesh Bhatt scored 25 runs from Jhapa. Dhangadhi's Rahul Bhandari and Narayan Joshi took 2 each and Bhojraj took 1 wicket. Lokesh Bam of Dhangadhi scored 57 runs off 36 balls. Player of the match He hit 3 fours and 4 sixes. Amit Shrestha scored 25 and Milan Bohra scored 18 runs. Jhapa's Pawan Karki, Abhishek Karki and Roshan Shah took 2 each and Rusil Rimal took 1 wicket.
In the first match, New Horizon Butwal beat Dasharath Chand Cricket Academy Baitadi by 51 runs. Batting after losing the toss, Butwal scored 157 runs after losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. Deepak Dumre scored 45 runs off 44 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. Arif Khan scored 41 and captain Dilip Nath and Pratik Shrestha added 20 runs each. Dashrath captain Bhuvan Karki took 2 wickets, Khadak Bohora, Saladin Khan and Rupesh Singh took 1 wicket each.
In response, Baitadi was bundled out for 16 runs in 14.5 overs. Basant Khatri scored 20 runs, Himal Dulia scored 19 runs, Sumit Badal scored 14 runs and Dewan Pun scored 12 runs. Tul Bahadur Thapa of Butwal took 3 wickets, Viprasan KC and Veer Magar 2 each and Mahesh Bhar, Siddhant Shahi and Nirmal Gurung took 1 wicket each.
Tul Bahadur became the player of the match. Bootball got the first win in 'B' group. Baitadi lost both matches. CYC Attaria is at the top with 4 points while Butwal is second. Cricket Excellence Center Kathmandu has been defeated in one game.
