Cricnepal/Dhangadi: Pentagon International College, Kathmandu had a remarkable victory in the opening match of The Hotel Devotee SPA Cup at Dhangadi today. Pentagon defeated Durga Laxmi Multimple Campus, Kailali by 101 runs to enter into the quarter final of the cup, the biggest cash prize tournament in Nepal.
Pentagon who were invited to bat first, scored a huge total of 199 runs in 20 overs losing 8 wickets. Thanks to a brilliant 59 from Naresh Budhayer and 56 from Pushpa Thapa.
Star players Mehboob Alam and Mahesh Chhetri gave a good start for Pentagon with an opening partnership of 43 runs in just 3.4 overs. Alam was later caught bu Gyanendra Kunwar off Janak Kunwar for 24 runs. Alam hit thee fours and a six. Chhetri got out for 9 runs. The third and fourth batsman Budhayer and Thapa then shared a partnership of 79 runs for third wicket. Budhayer hit eight fours and two sixes to score 59 off 35 while Thapa hit five fours and a six in his 44 balls-56.
43 runs were extras. Subash Bhatta and Janak Kunwar took two wickets each while Milan Dhami and Gyanendra Kunwar had a scalp each.
In reply, Pentagon restricted Durga Laxmi to 98 runs in 18.4 overs. Naresh Budhayer grabbed four wickets, Binod Chhetri took three while Santosh Baral and Pushpa Thapa shared a wicket each.
Bhuban Malla ad Gyanendra Kunwar scored 21 and 22 runs respectively for Durga Laxmi.
Naresh Budhayer was adjudged the player of the match for his 59 runs and 4 wickets.
Meanwhile Jaganath Campus, Baitadi got a walkover from Holy Land College, Nepalgunj.
On Tuesday, Kailali Multiple Campus will face Tikapur Multiple Campus while Aishwarya Vidya Niketan will play against Ghodaghodi Campus.
