Shadley guides Lumbini to summit

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec.  28: The all-around performance from South African Shadley Schalkwyk guided Lumbini All-Stars to the summit of the Nepal T-20 League Cricket after thrashing Pokhara Avengers by three wickets in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Lumbini maintained the pole position with two points lead over Kathmandu Knights, who trails behind the second place with four points. Pokhara is at the bottom of the league standing without any wins off three matches it played so far.  

Lumbini chased the target of 134 runs in the last ball with the loss of seven wickets at TU Cricket Ground. Kushal Bhurtel smashed the highest 39 runs for Lumbini. All-rounder Shadley Schalkwyk hit unbeaten 31 runs off 11 balls and Indian batter Unmukt Chand scored 22 runs. Kushal Malla and Bipin Khatri grabbed two wickets each for Pokhara.

Earlier, invited to bat first, Pokhara collected 133 runs with the loss of nine wickets in the allocated 20 overs match.

For Pokhara, Kushal Malla top scored with 61 runs that featured five boundaries and five sixes. Sri Lankan batter Upul Tharanga also chipped in with 42 runs for the losing team. Shadley Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowler with a three-wicket haul for Lumbini. 

Second win for Kathmandu 

A firework from England middle order Alexander Blake guided Kathmandu Knights to a second victory following a 53-run win over Janakpur Royals by 53 runs at T.U Ground, Kathmandu. Player of the match Blake smashed 83 runs as Kathmandu collected a mammoth 208 runs with the loss of six wickets in the 20 overs. Blake clubbed seven sixes and four fences off 43 balls. 

Opener Indian Virandeep Singh scored 49 runs off 34 balls and Afghani batter Azmatullah Omarzai smashed a quick-fire of 15-ball 43 including one boundary and four sixes. Pawan Sarraf grabbed two wickets for victim Janakpur.

Kathmandu bundled out Janakpur for 155 runs. Afghani all-rounder Samiullah Shinwari hit the highest 29 runs for Janakpur. Sundeep Jora (26) and Opener Pawan Sarraf (24) were other significant contributors to the losing team. Azmatullah Omarzai claimed three wickets and Basir Ahamad grabbed two wickets in the dismissal of Janakpur.