Biratnagar Superkings won by seven wickets against Kathmandu Knights in the morning match at Tribhuvan on Saturday. Kathmandu Knights were totally outplayed by the Superkings in terms of batting as skipper Rohit Paudel went on to score 66 runs.
Kathmandu Knights won the toss and elected to bat first with only one change in the name of Gautam KC. Virandeep Singh missed the match as he was unfit to play. With only one overseas player in the side, Knights managed to score 154 in 20 overs. Superkings wanted to bowl first and they got it with the previous match’s player of the match, Raj Nannan bagging four wickets by giving away only 13 runs in the four overs he bowled. The ball was coming nicely on the bat as Blake and Karki hit a few sixes at the start. Basir Ahamad with skipper Gyanendra Malla gave a nice finish by adding two sixes and three fours in the last two overs.
Biratnagar Superkings were never behind the run-rate as they gathered 11 runs in the first over itself. Although they lost Arjun Saud to Abinash Bohara, way early in the innings, Rohit Paudel stepped in with the single mindset of entertaining the crowd. The crowd was in awe of Paudel’s complete batting performance. He hit 66 runs off 42 balls including three sixes and five fours. No bowler from the Knights was ever able to get Paudel so they turned to the quick fielders. Sunam Gautam striked with Lokesh Bam’s swift hands to get Paudel run out.
Gauranshu Sharma too got a fifty today, finally the first one of the league. His batting was carefully etched with steadiness and the need to get runs to his name. Abinash Bohara again shined for Kathmandu Knights.
Biratnagar Superkings has now qualified for the Playoffs as they sit third on the points table. Knights will be riding on the result of the afternoon match between Pokhara Avengers and Far West United.
