Spinner duo Sagar Dhakal and Shahab Alam picked up eight wickets to restrict Pokhara Rhinos to the lowest total in the history of Everest Premier League on Wednesday.
Opting to field first in the first Qualifier match at Tribhuvan University ground, Pokhara Rhinos made a good start. Openers Richard Levi (19) and Sunil Dhamala(18) gave a 33 runs start in five overs. However, once Sompal Kami got rid of Levi and things started to happen for Chitwan, and it happened very quickly.
The slow-left arm orthodox bowling from Sagar Dhakal and Shahab Alam produced a sensational spell of spin bowling, with unplayable variations. Sunil Dhamala, Binod Bhandari (0), Asela Gunaratne (1), Bibek Yadav(2) misread the line and got either trapped in front or bowled.
Brilliant display of bowling from two young guns #ShahabAlam and #SagarDhakal restricts @pokhararhinos to 66. #eplt20#DareToDream #EPLPlayoffs#tigersVSrhinos pic.twitter.com/gasUBFNb4F
— EPL – Everest Premier League (@eplt20official) October 6, 2021
Sushan Bhari contributed 12 runs and tried to hang in there but it was too much for the lower-orders and eventually, bowled out for 66 runs in 15 overs.
Karim Janat and Sompal Kami shared wickets apiece.
In reply, Mohammad Shahazad and Hasim Ansari gave a blistering start to the chase for Chitwan and registered their fifty partnership in 34 balls, without any hiccups.
Shahazad blasted 7 fours and 2 sixes in his innings of 48 balls from 26 balls. His partner Hasim Ansari, who was playing his first match in EPL, remained unbeaten on 14 runs to give a 9-wickets victory over the Rhinos inside 8 overs.
