Kantipur clinch Double-wicket title

Post Report

KATHMANDU, March 30 : Kantipur Publications pulled a stunning win over Himalayan Bank ‘A’ on Sunday to clinch the Pepsi Icy Blue Double-wicket Cricket title.

In the final held at Tribhuvan University cricket ground, Himalayan Bank, chasing 14 runs for the win, could only finish with three runs on the board.

Required to make five runs off the final ball, Himalayan Bank batsman Rabindra Khatri was clean-bowled by Rohit Sharma as he swung and missed while going for a big one.

Sharma, who was declared man of the match in the semi-final against Soaltee Crowne Plaza, also won the man of the tournament for his brilliant all-round performance.

Kantipur, put into bat by Himalayan Bank, made 13 runs off the allotted six overs. Kantipur were cruising along nicely with 22 runs on the board at one stage but Himalayan Bank captured two wickets in the middle and struck once again in the last ball of the innings to check the target at the safe distance.

Rohit Sharma, playing with great timing, belted three fours to race to 26 runs but a loss of wicket left him at 20. Pokharel, who lost his wicket twice in the match, finished with three runs.

Himalayan Bank were very much on the driver’s seat coming into the fourth over with nine runs on the board. But Sudin Pokharel claimed a wicket in the last ball of the over to give a vital breakthrough, which turned the tide in favour of Kantipur. For Himalayan Bank, Rabindra Khatri made a net contribution of three runs.

Kantipur had earlier continued their march with convincing victories over Maxpro and Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the quarterfinals and semi-finals respectively. The quarterfinal and semi-final matches consisted of four overs.

In the first semi-final, Himalayan Bank ‘A’ scored a comprehensive win over Sumi Distilleries chasing the target of 13 runs without any loss. Rabindra Khatri was declared man of the match in the game for his all-round contribution.

Earlier Sumi Distelleries defeated Bank of Kathmandu while Soaltee Crowne Plaza annihilated Annapurna Hotel on their way to the semi-finals.

At a function held after the final, Navnit Nagpal, the general manager of Hotel Yak & Yeti and Managing Director of Kantipur Publications Kailash Sirohiya gave away trophies to the winners, runners-up and outstanding players.

Speaking on the occasion, Nagpal hoped tournaments would help towards the development of cricket in Nepal and bring about further investment into the game.

Commending the tournament organisers and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), who provided technical support, for the successful hosting, Sirohiya expressed hope that such continuous interest and support of people from all quarters could lead Nepal to the next Cricket World Cup.

Besides, unfolding of part-time players from different teams trying to outperform each other, what made the tournament catch the imagination of those present at the ground was gallant performance from the fieldsmen. They braved the scorching sun all day through, supporting each of the participating teams with wholehearted commitment.

A total of 16 teams representing different institutions and business houses participated in the two-day event organised by Hotel Yak & Yeti under the sponsorship of Pepsi.

MPC reach semis with 4-0 win over RCT

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MORANG, March 30 : Mahendra Police Club (MPC) scored a convincing 4-0 victory over Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT) on Sunday to move into the semi-finals of the ongoing Mahendra Gold Cup Football tournament. With the win, the police outfit avenged their humiliating 6-0 loss to the same opposition when the two sides met last time in the tournament’s quarterfinals.

MPC, despite playing without four key players Kishore Subba, Deepak Poudel, Raju Katuwal and goalkeeper Mani Chamling, dictated the terms for most of the time in the tournament’s second quarterfinal played at the local Shahid Stadium.

Not even the absence of captain Anil Adhikari, who was carried off the field due to head injury just after five minutes, unsettled their spirit. Adhikari picked up the injury when he collided with an opposition while trying to take hold of the ball on air.

Although there were several close chances for both the sides in the opening session, neither could really capture them and they went into break at scoreless.

MPC’s Ramesh Budhathoki opened the account 16 minutes into the second half. Budhathoki, who would be named man of the match later, slotted home the ball from close for a 1-0 after tapping a long pass from Ananta Thapa inside the penalty area.

Before that, RCT came up with three thrustful moves into the police territory but ‘keeper stood his ground to stave off the dangers. Former MPC player Ayita Singh Tamang was the first one to be denied in the 52nd minute followed by attempts from captain Ramesh Gyawali in the 55th and Sukra Gurung in the 60th minute.

Even sporadic moves from RCT became rarer after Budhathoki strike and MPC took the total charge thereafter.

MPC had a glorious opportunity in the 73rd minute to extend lead but striker Hari Khadka failed to control a pass from Budhathoki that completely beat RCT ‘keeper Dilip Chhetri.

But MPC quickly compensated that loss when substitute Dev Narayan Chaudhary made it 2-0 on 76 minutes. Budhathoki’s shot off a Khadka cross hit the crossbar but Chaudhary, who was on hand, headed home the ball.

And in the 81st minute, Khadka put his name into scorer’s list. Starting with the ball from the middle, he took on three defenders as well as the ‘keeper to score a spectacular goal to give MPC a 3-0 cushion.

In between, RCT had a couple of good chances to come back into the game in the 77th and 85th minutes only to see them go begging with Sukra Gurung and Ramesh Gyawali being off target again.

Three minutes from time, MPC were awarded with a penalty by the referee Amar Bahadur Pokharel after RCT defender Surendra Balami pulled down Budhathoki inside the box. And Khadka easily converted the resultant penalty to make it 4-0 and seal the match.

MPC will play their semi-final on Thursday against the winner of the Tuesday’s quarterfinal match between Eastern Railways, Kolkata and Thermal Club, Assam.

On Monday, Tribhuvan Club play against last year’s runners-up Eveready Sports Association, Kolkata in the tournament’s third quarterfinal.