Josh Brown and Vinod Bhandari's century partnership helps Sudurpaschim Royals beat Pokhara Avengers by 18 runs to take the lead
What you should know
Sudurpaschim Royals have shown their strong credentials in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket. Opening duo Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari's century partnership helped Sudurpaschim defeat Pokhara Avengers by 18 runs on Friday.
This is Sudurpaschim's second consecutive win. The team defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas by 29 runs in the first match. Pokhara lost to Biratnagar Kings by 53 runs in the first match. Last year, Sudurpaschim won the match between these two by 5 runs.
Sudurpaschim, who were invited to bat after losing the toss at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium, scored 193 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. In reply, captain Kushal Bhurtel scored a half-century for the second consecutive match, but Pokhara could only score 175 runs for the loss of 8 wickets.
Bhurtel scored 53 runs in 32 balls, including 4 fours and a six. He lost his leg stump while trying to cross Scott Kuggeleijn's ball. Pokhara scored only 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 dismissed for 6 and Abhishek Tiwari for 3 runs off 13 balls.
Pokhara did not start well. Adam Rossington was run out in the first over. His opening partner Dinesh Kharel could also score only 6 runs. Kiran Thagunna was also dismissed for 9 runs. In the lower 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 Kuggeleijn, Deependra, Hemant Dhami, Avinash Bohra and Naren Saud took 1 wicket each.
Earlier, Brown and Binod had given Sudurpaschim a great start by putting on 99 runs without loss in the first 10 overs. In the 11th over, Nisham dismissed Brown and broke the partnership, when Sudurpaschim's score was 108. Brown scored 68 runs in 35 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes. Binod scored 43 runs in 42 balls with 6 fours. Between Brown and Binod, Chris Lynn was out for 31 runs in 13 balls and captain Deependra Singh Airey was out for 13 runs in 10 balls. Lynn hit 4 fours and 2 sixes and Deependra also hit 1 four and 1 six.
Harmeet Singh, who batted aggressively against Kathmandu Gorkhas, got out for 4 runs in 6 balls, Scott Kuggeleijn got out 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.
