Kathmandu, Dec 12: Pokhara Avengers has defeated Biratnagar Kings by 13 runs in the super over in today’s first match of the Nepal Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament held at the Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground.
Chasing a 140-run victory target set by Biratnagar before this, Pokhara made 139 runs in the allotted 20 overs, losing six wickets, and the game entered the super over. This is the first super over match of the NPL so far.
Pokhara had batted first in the super over while Biratnagar skipper Sandeep Lamichhane was in the bowling.
Raymon Reifer of Pokhara hit a six in the first and second ball each. Sandeep maintained a dot in the third ball. Reifer scored a four in the fourth ball. Sandeep conceded one run each in the fifth and the sixth ball. Biratnagar was chasing a target of overall 19 runs in the super over.
Martin Guptill and Nicholas Kirton of Biratnagar took the batting order in the super over. Pokhara brought Reifer for bowling. Martin Guptill made one run in the first ball while Kirton made one run each in the second and third ball. Kirton played dot ball in the fourth ball while scoring one run in the fifth ball.
Reifer threw wide in the fifth ball and kept the last ball as dot ball; whereby Pokhara clinched a 13-run win over Biratnagar in the super over.
Before this, Andries Gous made the highest 39 runs for Pokhara which was chasing a 140-run victory target. Similarly, Raymon Reifer made 34 runs. Captain Kushal Bhurtel scored 31 runs while Dinesh Kharel and Michael Leask each hit 11 runs.
Pratish GC took four wickets for Biratnagar while Chris Sole took two wickets for Biratnagar.
Batting first after winning the toss, Biratnagar made a total 139 runs in 20 overs at the loss of seven wickets. Scott Edwards made the highest 45 runs for Biratnagar, hitting five fours in 35 balls. Similarly, Lokesh Bam scored 26 runs, Bashir Ahamed 21 runs, Kirton 19 runs, Chris Sole seven and Guptill five runs.
Sagar Dhakal and Raymon Reifer each took two wickets for Pokhara while captain Kushal Bhurtel and Dinesh Kharel claimed one wicket each.
Kathmandu Gurkhas and Janakpur Bolts are vying in the second match of NPL today.
