One of the biggest league of T20s among the associates, TVS EPL 2017 matched up it’s expectation in the first week of it’s commencement. We saw everything that were expected to be seen in a T20 format of cricket league. Right from the start it offered spices, flair and excitement among players, officials, sponsors as well as crowds.
During the first week of EPL, we saw exceptional batting from the overseas players in the likes of Babar Hayat, Ashuman Rath, Israrullah as well as Puneet Bisth. Their standard has been far better far better than most of the domestic players including senior Nepali batsmen expect Dipendra Airee. The arch of batting seems uni directional for domestic players whereas overseas players add up versatility in their shot selections.
1. Fifth Day ( Exclusive Babar Hayat)
The entire Nepal is in a massive state of flux right now. The ability of Hayat to score two’s is allied to an ability to manipulate good balls, even at the very start of his innings and punishing every ball after being set is what T20s format demand. His blistering inning of 42 balls-81 runs is what everyone is missing in this tournament and he accomplished it in the fifth day of the tournament. He ended off with five records of EPL in his name through single inning. 
Babar Hayat hold the record of most back to back sixes with four back to back sixes off Dipendra Singh Airee’s over. He also hold the joint-record of most sixes in an innings with six sixes in an innings vs Chitawan Tigers. He also hold the most runs in a single over with 30 runs off Dipendra Airee over. He also held the record of fastest fifty of the tournament and most runs in a single innings with 25 balls half-century and 81 runs innings respectively.
2. Sixth Day ( Judgmatic inning of Dipendra Airee)
Sixth day was all about youngster Dipendra Singh Airee’s judgmatic innings of 55 runs off 50 balls with 7 fours. Once Tigers were at 33 runs for the lost of 4 wickets chasing down the target of 131 runs. That match could swing in any direction. But Dipendra Airee was doing his job just right. His judgmatic innings of 55 runs off 50 balls led his team towards their first victory of the tournament.
Yes, it was indeed an exciting contest between bat and ball. Although 4s and 6s were in a flurry all over T.U stadium. Most of the bowlers did their job well. And we can’t deny the fact that the condition and pitch both offered them a lot in the first hour of the play everyday.
If we look at the bowling performance and evaluate the bowlers, veteran spinner and match winner of senior Nepal cricket team, Basant Regmi stands out with all his experiences with 9 wickets in the 4 matches that he has played.
His average of 7.33 with an economy 4.44 is the best among all other bowlers in EPL. Similarly, Praveen Gupta of Chitwan Tigers and Israrullah from Pokhara Rhinos hold the banner of their respective teams when it comes to bowling. Praveen has taken 9 wickets and Israrullah has 7 scalps to his name to summarize the top 3 performances when it comes to bowling.
Apart from them, Dipesh Shrestha and Avinash Karn are progressing in every matches. Sompal Kami although in a loosing side hasn’t failed to impress with his fizzy pace and uneven bounce.
At last but not the least, fielding standard has been exceptional when it comes to ground fielding as well as catching.
Anil Kumar Sah of Biratnagar Warriors pulled off some stunners in deep-cover and deep mid-wicket. His sprint, diving skills and judgement has been extra-ordinary. He has set a high standard of fielding that was lacking in the domestic leagues. Following the same pattern, Sagar Pun hasn’t left any complaints when it comes to fielding. He has covered most part of the grounds, dived, collected as well as recovered sharply than most of the fielders in the tournament. His ground fielding is miles apart from any other players participating in the league.
Therefore, the 1st week of EPL was an outrageous effect to the domestic circuit of Nepal cricket that was continuously bringing diversities in batting, bowling and exceptional fielding efforts from most of the youngsters involved in it. It will surely up grade its standard in the 2nd and the conclusive week of the tournament.
