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| Kathmandu, Monday March 31, 2003 Chaitra 17, 2059. |
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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.
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