Brilliant bowling performance by medium pacer Suresh Guragain helped NASA International College, Kathmandu seal a six-wicket victory over Aishwarya Vidya Niketan, Dhangadhi on Sunday and book a berth in the semifinals of Hotel Devotee SPA Cup Inter-college Cricket Tournament being held in Dhangadhi.
NASA will take on Mahendra Namuna Higher Secondary, Dadeldhura on Monday while Pentagon will lock horns with host Sudur Paschimanchal Academy (SPA) in the other semifinal.
Dev Narayan Jha of Aishwarya Vidya Niketan plays a shot while NASA International’s wicketkeeper Subash Pradhan looks on during their quarterfinal match of the Hotel Devotee SPA Cup Inter-College Cricket Tournament in Dhangadhi on Sunday.
(Photo Courtesy: Mahesh Shah)
Guragain claimed three wickets to restrict Aishwarya to 112/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Guragain paired with Durgesh Singh in NASA’s bowling. He not only took two wickets in his very first over but also kept it a maiden over. He dismissed Kamal Raj Joshi for one run and Sagar Magar for a duck. Man-of-the-match Guragain took the wicket of Dharam Khadka in his next over. Opener Khadka scored 14 runs off nine balls with three boundaries.
Dinesh Thagunna made 29 runs off 32 balls with two fours and two sixes. Likewise, Rubi Khadka (19 runs), Basu Giri (17 runs) and Dev Narayan Jha (12 runs) were the other major contributors for the local team.
Lal Bahadur Adhikari took two wickets for NASA while Rahul Singh and Prabin Joshi claimed a wicket each.
NASA met the target with 10 balls to spare as opener Mukesh Singh clobbered 40 runs off 42 balls. Singh hit four fours and a six in his anchoring innings. Captain Subash Pradhan (12 runs), Abhaya Paudel (15 runs), Rahul Singh (18 runs) and Mohammad Sajid (unbeaten 11 runs) were the other major contributors for NASA.
Basu Giri claimed two wickets for Aishwarya while Rubi Khadka and Amit Padal claimed a wicket each.