Former U-19 duo lift KCL for Dhangadhi

Former U-19 national team openers Amit Shrestha and Sunil Dhamala combined for a record century stand as Dhangadhi United won the title of the Kathmandu Cricket League on Sunday. In the final match at the Tundikhel grounds, Dhangadhi defeated Kahmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) by 105 runs to win the inaugural edition of the tournament.

 

Sunil and Amit, who opened for Nepal in the 2013-14 ACC Asia Cup in UAE, shared 171 runs for the opening wicket before Dhangadhi were 248 all out in 44.1 overs. Sunil then returned to shine with the ball as well picking up three wickets along with Bikram Thagunna and Mahesh Adhikari as KCTC, the team from Kathmandu, were 143 all out in 24.3 overs.

After getting reduced to 28-4, Aadil Khan and Sanjay Basnet tried to bring KCTC back in the match with 47-run partnership before the former lost his wicket to Dhamala. Aadil made 35 off 32 with four boundaries and a six.

Sanjay went on to add another 50 with Sumit Maharjan (10) to keep up the hopes but his dismissal off Bikram virtually put KCTC out of contention. Sanjay made 57 off 37 with eight boundaries and a six. Earlier, Dhangadhi total revolved around the big opening wicket stand with both batsmen showing grit in their innings. Dhamala made 73 off 91 with nine boundaries and a six, while Amit posted a match-high 94 off 111 with 13 hits to the fence. Both batsmen lost their wickets to Nandan Yadav.

Dhangadhi had no big contributors after the fall of the openers with Siddhant Lohani chipping in a 15-ball 31 with three boundaries and two sixes. Manish Sahani picked up four wickets for KCTC, while Rajesh Pulami and Pritam Thapa also had two scalp apiece.

 

Best Batsman                Sunam Gautam (SS Event Pvt Ltd)

Best Bowler                  Nandan Yadav (KCTC)

Best Fielder                  Bishwas Adhikari (LBCC)

Promising Player           Rajbir Sing (Dhangadi United)

Emerging Player            Sudheer Chaudhary (Srijananagar)

U-19 Emerging Player    Sujan Thapaliya (LBCC)

Man of the series          Ashish Dhami(KCTC)

Dhangadi United  :        Winner         RS 50,000

 

KCTC                          Runner Up     RS 25,000