Samir Karki and Bhupal Dangal shared half-century stand for the fourth wicket on Tuesday to help Jhapa XI to a tense 8-run win over Cricket Academy of Siraha on the second match of Siraha Tour of Jhapa 2076.
Jhapa XI captain Rupak Baral elected to bat first after winning the toss and his team scored 132 allout in 20 overs. Siraha were losing it quite comfortably with half of their batsman already back in the tent for first 50-run, but lower middle order made it bit interesting and took them to 124 allout in 19.2 overs.
Samir Karki — who was introduced as a seventh bowling option — took care of lower order batsmen and returned the figures of 4-8 in his three overs. Basant Chauhan also picked three wickets, giving away 16 runs in his four overs. Kush Mandal scored 21 runs off 13 balls with two sixes and a four.
Earlier, player-of-the-match Samir top scored for the winning side. He hammered four sixes and a four in his way to scoring 17-ball 36. Bhupal Dangal — who was involved in half-century stand with Samir — smashed five boundaries for his 33-ball 32. Kush Mandal had three scalps for the losing side, giving away 17 runs in his four overs. Akram Siddique also picked as many wickets, conceding 21 runs off his four overs.
Jhapa XI will face Milan Cricket Club on Wednesday to decide the finalist of the series. Milan had lost their first match with Cricket Academy of Siraha by 23-run.
