While Sudurpaschim, buoyed by their first win, defeated Pokhara by 18 runs to maintain their undefeated streak in the competition, Pokhara suffered a second defeat.
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Sudurpaschim Royals registered their second consecutive victory in Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket thanks to a century partnership between opening duo Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari. The Royals defeated Pokhara Avengers by 18 runs on Friday.
Sudurpaschim Royals, who came after Pokhara captain Kushal Bhurtel won the toss and invited them to bat at the Tribhuvan University Cricket International Stadium, scored 193 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Despite Bhurtel scoring a half-century, Pokhara could only score 175 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.
This is the Royals' second consecutive win. Royals had defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by 29 runs in the first match. Pokhara had lost to Biratnagar Kings by 53 runs in the first match. Last year's league match between these two, Sudurpaschim had won by 5 runs.
Bhurtel scored 53 runs in 32 balls, including 4 fours and a six. He lost his leg stump while trying to play by crossing Scott Kugglen's ball. Pokhara could only score 25 runs in the 6 overs of the power play and lost 3 wickets, but Bhurtel and Jimmy Neesham added 75 runs in 43 balls for the fourth wicket.
Nisham, who led Janakpur Bolts to the title last season, scored 47 runs off 25 balls, including 2 fours and 5 sixes. He was bowled by Royals captain Deependra with a low ball. Sumit Verma was out for 6, Abhishek Tiwari for 3 runs off 13 balls.
Pokhara did not get off to a good start. Adam Rossington was run out in the first over. His opening pair Dinesh Kharel could also score only 6 runs. Kiran Thagunna was also out for 9 runs. At the bottom of the order, Dan Douthwaite scored 37 runs off 16 balls, including 1 four and 5 sixes. Bipin Khatri remained unbeaten on 7 runs.
Royals' Harmit Singh took 2 wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs, while Kugglen, Deependra, Hemant Dhami, Avinash Bohra and Naren Saud took 1 wicket each.
Earlier, Brown and Binod had given Sudurpaschim a great start by adding 99 runs without loss in the first 10 overs. In the 11th over, Nisham broke the partnership by dismissing Brown, while Sudurpaschim's score was 108.
Brown scored 68 runs off 35 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes. Binod scored 43 runs off 42 balls with 6 fours. Between Brown and Binod, Chris Lynn scored 31 off 13 balls and captain Deependra Singh Airey was out for 13 runs off 10 balls. Lynn hit 4 fours and 2 sixes and Deependra hit 1 four and 1 six.
Harmeet Singh, who batted aggressively against Kathmandu Gorkhas, was out for 4 runs off 6 balls, Scott Cugglen for 8 and Arif for zero. Pokhara Nisham took 3 wickets for 47 runs in 4 overs, while Douthwaite took 24 runs in 4 overs, and Akash Chand took 2 wickets for 43 runs in 4 overs.
