Pepsi Double-wicket Cricket from today

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KATHMANDU, March 28 : The Pepsi Icy Blue Double Wicket Cricket tournament begins at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground on Saturday with Raddison Hotel taking on host Yak & Yeti Team ‘B’ in the curtain raiser.

A total of 16 teams representing country’s different business houses will compete at the two-day event being organised by Hotel Yak & Yeti and sponsored by Varun Beverages -the manufacturer of Pepsi Cola. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) would provide technical support for the tournament.

Speaking at a press conference, the executive director of Varun Beverages Rajiv Sant revealed Pepsi Cola’s interest in promoting sports in the country. "As Pepsi was the official sponsor of the recently concluded ICC World Cup Cricket tournament, we would also like to continue promoting cricket in Nepal," said Sant.

Navnit Nagpal, the general manager of Hotel Yak & Yeti also highlighted his hotel’s keenness in supporting sporting events. "The pre-tournament response of this double-wicket tournament is overwhelming and we will try our best to continue this tournament annually," said Nagpal during the programme.

The tournament will be played under the ICC Double-wicket format.

Each corporate team should make a squad of four-member comprising two playing sets players, extra player and a team manager. CAN will provide eight fielders and wicket keeper for the knock-out competition. Both the sides have to play full quota four overs regardless how the chasing team records win in less than their allotted over. If a
batsmen gets out six run will be deducted. For bouncers, beamer and wides ball two runs will be considered. For the semifinals and finals, 12 overs are allotted, according to the double-wicket rule.

A total of six trophies will be distributed to the winning team, runner-up, semifinalists, best player and ‘man-of-the-final’.

Meanwhile, the lucky draw of the ‘Pepsi Predict and Win Contest’ was also released during the programme. Leema Pradhan bagged the bumper jackpot winning paid trip for a couple to Mumbai. Other winners of the contest were Biju Chitrakar, Pravha Pokharel, Umesh S Karki and Prasant Pratap Shah.

Assam shoot out Sunsari to reach QF

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BIRATNAGAR, March 28 : Thermal Club’s goalkeeper Bimal Bajrachari saved a penalty shoot-out as the visiting team from Assam, India entered the quarterfinals of the Mahendra Gold Cup Invitational Football tournament beating Sunsari-XI 3-4 on Friday.

The match was prolonged to the tiebreaker after teams from both ends failed to break 0-0 deadlock in the regulation as well as added extra time. Bajrachari dived to his right to save a weak Suraj Khaling shot in the tense penalty shoot-out when Sunsari-XI most score a goal.

From Asham penalty takers Kuruma Bhrama, Bijen Gayara, Prakabashu Matari and Mithun Gayara converted their chances while Sunsari goalie Nirjal Shrestha blocked a shot from captain Jayanta Bhrama. From the loosing side, Kendra Limbu, Dany Rai and Kamal Basnet were on the target while captain Khaling and Deepesh Thapa failed to sustain the pressure squandering their chances of entering the quarterfinals.

The neighboring team deserved the loss after they failed to convert a spot-kick in the 21st minute of the match thanks to Deepak Limbu whose shot bounced back into the field hitting the side bar. Kendra Limbu drove the ball waltzing three Thermal defenders but captain Bhrama committed a ferocious tackle inside their 18-yard area, allowing referee Kiran Giri to point at the spot.

Sunsari produced several close chances in comparison with the visiting outfit in the match but poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping cost them dear. They had a close look even before squandering the spot-kick. Deepak Limbu hit the cross bar and tried the rebound as well but once again Bajrachari justified his match winning man of the match award demonstrating a full-stretch dive.

Asham too produced a couple of lethal attacks in the first half. The most convincing attack came in the 30th minute from Bijen Gayari but Sunsari defender Sagar Ghimire controlled the ball from the touchline to avoid the occasional danger.

The visitors looked like opting for the tiebreaker immediately after the first half as they started playing more defensively after changing their ends. More troubles were awaiting Sunsari as referee Giri ruled two goals offside in the second half. Kendra Limbu beat goalie Bhajrachari in the 55th minute but his endeavor was ruled offside by the referee. Likewise, Milan Shrestha beat advancing Bajrachari and directed the ball inside Thermal net and once again the goal was ruled offside demoralising Sunsari spirit.

Asham produced only two chances after the first half and each time they were denied by Sunsari goalie Shrestha extending the match to a thrilling tiebreaker.

The quarterfinal matches of the tournament begins Saturday with new looking Three Star Club taking on George Telegraph, Kolkata.