Kathmandu/Cricnepal: Maruti Suzuki XI of Kathmandu registered a 22 run victory over Arihant Group of Biratnagar to clinch the title of the Nepal Marwadi Cricket League here today.
In the final match played at Tribhuwan University Ground, Arihant Group won the toss and elected to field first.
With a 47 runs opening partnership between Hitedh Dalmiya and Amol Sharma and a 71 runs partnership between Amol and Rohit Sharma, Maruti Suzuki XI scored a good 144 in 20 overs losing seven wickets.
Dalmiya scored 31 runs off 21 balls including three fours and a six. Amol played 56 balls hitiing six fours. Rahul Bansal added 21 runs off 7 deliveries including three big sixes.
Gaurav Sethia showed a fine bowling as he picked up four crucial wickets including a hat rick costing only six runs off four overs, one of which went as maiden. Sethia claimed the hatrick in the last over as Rahul Bansal was stumped in the first ball, Abhishek Bathwal was bowled and Gaurav Jain was again stumped in the third ball. Arun Bihani and Shambhu Rathi also picked up a wicket each for Arihant Group.
In reply, Summit Sharma and Sunil Gaggar destructed the Arihant’s batting as both pick four wickets each. Man of the match, Amol Sharma picked up two wickets.
Openers Shailesh Sethia and Abhishek Agrawal played some good game and holded the innings towards their side. But as the wickets kept on tumbling in regular intervals, Arihant had to satisfy themselves in a score of 122 runs. Arihant played 17 overs before losing all wickets.
Sethia scored 44 runs off 37 balls that included four fours and a six while Agrawal made 25 off 32. Rohit Jajodia added 21 off 24 with a four.
Sunil Aggar claimed the second hat rick in the match. In the eighteenth over, Aggar claimed a wicket of Pankajparakh Pawan in the fourth ball. In the fifth ball, Pankaj Kunia was caught by Rahul Bansal and in the last ball Arihant Baid went for a leg before wicket.
Winner Maruti Suzuki XI bagged away cash prize of Rs. 150,000 with trophy while the runner up Arihant Group claimed cash prize of Rs. 75,000 and trophy.
Jay Prakash Sarraf from RMC Yodha Birgunj was adjudged as the best batsman while Summit Sharma from the winning side was awarded the best bowler and the player of the series. Sarraf made 125 runs off three matches while Sharma picked up fourteen wickets and scored 61 runs off four overs. Pankaj Lunia from runners up was adjudged the best fielder while the fair play award went to RMC Yodha Birgunj.
Prizes were given by Guest Honorable Hem Raj Tated (Minister of Environment & Science), Mr. Shrawan Agrawal (President of Marwadi Sewa Samiti Nepal), Mr. Pawan Mittal (President of Rastriya Marwadi Parishad), Mr. Surendra Golcha (President of Rastriya Marwadi Yuva Sangathan), Mr. Rajendra Khetan (Parliament Member), Siddhartha Somani (Parliament Member) etc.
