Baluwatar Club bag trophy

Post Report

LALITPUR, Jan 5:Baluwatar Cricket Club (BCC) won the Suman Rijal Memorial Trophy cricket tournament defeating Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) by five-wickets in the final played at the St. Xavier’s Cricket Ground on Saturday.

After winning the toss, JYC managed 159 runs in 33.2 overs. Samir Joshi played a lone hand with 41 off 42 balls that included six boundaries and a huge sixer. Pragyan Thapa contributed a valuable tally of 23 runs off 28 balls. Dhiraj Dhungana and Karma Maharjan scored 16 and 12 runs respectively for JYC. Sharad Kahdka, Yug Basnet and Rikesh Lama struck two wickets each while Ritesh Baral, Maheshwor Shrestha and Raju KC took a wicket apiece for BCC.

Chasing a target of more than four runs per over, Sugam Malla guided his team to a comprehensive victory by scoring 51 runs off 63 balls studded with eight fours. Purushottam Bista also demonstrated skilful batting, chipping in with 31 off 35. Rikesh Lama remained unbeaten at 14. BCC reached the target of 160 runs for five wickets in 29 overs.

JYC bowlers had a tough time bowling to Malla and Bista. Karma Maharjan was the only bowler to show some threat to the opponents claiming two wickets in his seven-over spell. Pratik Pradhan and Sanju Bista took one wicket apiece.

Sugam Malla was declared man of the match, while JYC’s Nirajeet Rimal bagged man of the series and best batsman of the tournament. Likewise, Purushottam Bista received best fielder and Pratik Pradhan was adjudged as the best bowler. JYC president Kishore KC, Medini Prashad Rijal, father of late Suman Rijal, and Father James Donnely handed over the trophies and certificates to the participants.

The winners’ purse contains a cash prize of Rs 7,000 while the runners-up take away Rs 5,000.

Jorpati to meet Dhapakhel in semis

Post Report

LALITPUR, Jan 5: Jorpati became the last team to register for the semifinals in the Pushpalal Memorial Cup Inter-VDC football tournament following a 3-0 win over Dakshinkali on Saturday.

In the first minute of the match, Nepali international Nirajan Rayamajhi, representing Jorpati, missed the opportunity to open the score when Dakshinkali goalie Devendra Shrestha punched Rayamajhi’s attempt outside the bar.

However, the situation changed in the sixth minute when Jorpati’s Sangeet Lama put his team 1-0 up. He received Deepak Lama pass and dribbled past three defenders to bury a powerful 10-yarder in the Dhakshinkali nets.

Rayamajhi, unlike his usual self, was seen struggling for his rhythm in the first half as he missed as many as six easy scoring opportunities during the period.

Despite Jorpati’s increased aggression in the second half, Daskhsinkali goalie Devendra Shrestha made things difficult for them as he demonstrated sublime skills under the bar. Had it not been for Shrestha, Dakshinkali would probably had conceded more goals.

In the 55th minute, Rayamajhi provided a well-measured cross to Ranjeet Lama as he unleashed a robust fire to double the score at 2-0. Lama’s right footer entered into the vacant net, as goalie Sherstha was nowhere near the scene.

The third goal came in form of a spot kick when Dakshinkali’s Gyanendra Maharjan committed a ferocious looking tackle on Gokul Sunuwar in the 62nd minute into the match. Maharjan was not penalised by the referee Dilip Razak. However, Razak did not hesitate to award Jorpati with a spot-kick

Jorpati’s skipper Ramesh Lama took the charge and coolly unleashed a right footer to the left corner to see Dakshinkali’s goalie Devendra Shrestha diving to right. Following the 3-0 win, Jorpati captured the semi-final berth and will face Dhapakhel on Sunday. New Naikap has already booked its place for the final following a stunning 3-2 win over Shesh Narayan in the Friday’s semifinal.