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Kathmandu Thursday July 12, 2001 Ashadh 28, 2058.
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Galaxy beat Image Channel to
reach final
Post Report
KATHMANDU, July 11 - Galaxy Cricket Club (GCC)
reached the final of the United Youth Cup cricket tournament defeating Image Channel (IC)
by 25 runs in the first semi-final played at the local Tudikhel ground on Wednesday.
Galaxy skipper Bikrant Chhetri’s decision
to bat first after winning went against them as they lost the first wicket with only six
runs on the board. However, Abisek Shrestha (20) and opener Rikesh Lama (15) stabilized
the GCC innings with a steady 45-run second wicket partnership.
GCC built up their innings at brisk pace even as
the wickets tumbled at regular interval. If they reached a respectable total then it was
largely because of the middle order contribution. Rajiv Pant made 20 off 25 deliveries
while Maheswor Sharma and skipper Vikrant Chhetri each scored useful 17 runs. And Kiran
Rana’s slogging, 25 off just 15 balls towards the close of the innings helped GCC to
155 runs in 30 overs. His 25 run-innings included two brilliant sixes over deep mid-wicket
area, that came off two consecutive balls bowled by Manjeet Shrestha and Ratan Rauniyar.
Medium pacer Amit Rana was the most difficult of
Image Channel bowlers to score runs off him. He clinched three wickets in five overs
conceding just 17 runs. Right arm off-spinner Ratan Rauniyar also bagged three wickets but
his five-over spell cost him 33 runs.
Chasing a decent target of 156 runs, Image
Channel, lost their in-form opening batsman Sagar Pant cheaply on nine. But Yaswant Subedi
and Bharat Sharma shared a valued 65 runs for the second wicket. Subedi made a
scintillating run-a-ball 52 with the help of six boundaries and a six off Yug Basnet on
long-on area. No sooner Sharma (20) fell to Pramod Basnet, Image Channel middle order
caved in against the disciplined line of attack from GCC bowlers.
Subedi followed Sharma to the pavilion in the
very next ball and with the asking run rate swelling up, they lost their last seven
wickets for the addition of only 29 runs.
Yug Basnet played the havoc in IC innings. His
match haul of four wickets inflicting their middle orders collapse. Besides the effective
bowling, he also took a catch and effected one run out to win man of the match award. And
Image Channel were all out managing just 130 runs from 28 overs.
Pramod Basnet also played a helpful hand to Yug
Basnet, showing three Image Channel batsmen the way to the pavilion. |
