Consolation win of Biratnagar in EPL

KATHMANDU: OCT. 3 – Biratnagar Warriors have clinched a consolation victory in the Everest Premier League (EPL). Biratnagar defeated Kathmandu Kings XI by 7 runs in a match reduced to 8 overs after rain soaked the ground on Sunday. Biratnagar has already dropped out of the competition.

Batting first after losing the toss in Kirtipur, Biratnagar lost 5 wickets in 8 overs and scored 104 runs. Anil Sah played an explosive innings for Biratnagar. He scored 45 off 16 balls with the help of 2 fours and 5 sixes. Opener Rayyan Pathan also played an explosive innings. He added 30 runs in 11 balls with the help of 2 fours and 3 sixes. When captain Karan KC added 15 runs, Biratnagar was in a good rhythm. Gulshan Jha, Ryan Burl and Sandeep Lamichhane took one wicket each for Kathmandu.

Chasing the target of 105 runs, Kathmandu lost 3 wickets in 8 overs and added only 97 runs. For Kathmandu, Afghan player Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 28 runs. He struck three fours and one six in 15 balls. Similarly, Raju Rijal remained unbeaten on 24 runs. Subash Khakurel remained unbeaten on 26 off 10 balls with three sixes but could not help the team win.

Kathmandu needed 26 runs in the last over. But he managed to score only 18 runs. Even though Subash played some attractive shots and led the team to the end, it was not enough for the victory. He hit sixes in the first and third balls in the last over, but after scoring only four runs in the last three balls, Kathmandu lost.

Rayyan Pathan of Biratnagar took 2 wickets. In the first match, Kathmandu defeated defending champions Lalitpur by 7 wickets. In the second match, Chitwan lost to Tigers by 3 wickets.

In the first match, Biratnagar lost to Chitwan Tigers by 2 wickets, Bhairahawa Gladiators by 6 wickets and Lalitpur by 37 runs.

In the fourth match, Biratnagar lost to Pokhara by 7 wickets. There is pressure on Kathmandu to win the remaining two games to make it to the playoffs.