Sudurpaschim Royals posted 193 for seven against the Pokhara Avengers at the TU Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur, on Friday, setting up a competitive total after a rapid start powered by Josh Brown and Binod Bhandari.
Sudurpaschim made a blistering start. Brown set the tone with clean hitting, reaching his fifty off 29 balls. The openers raced to 50 in 4.2 overs and reached 99 without loss by the 10th over. Brown dominated the partnership, striking six fours and five sixes in a 35-ball 68, while Bhandari played the anchoring role at the other end. Their stand crossed 100 runs from 61 deliveries and laid the platform for a big score.
Pokhara broke the partnership in the 11th over when Brown fell to James Neesham. Chris Lynn then kept the tempo high, smashing 31 off 13 balls, including four fours and two sixes, before he too fell attempting to clear the boundary. At 142 for two after 13 overs, Sudurpaschim looked set for a total well above 200.
The innings slowed after Lynn’s dismissal. Skipper Dipendra Singh Airee struck a quick 15 but was removed by Dan Douthwaite, who bowled with control and mixed his variations well. Bhandari, who had rebuilt after Brown’s exit, departed for 43 in the 17th over, leaving the lower order to finish the job.
Pokhara’s bowlers clawed back strongly in the final five overs, conceding only 33 runs and claiming five wickets. Neesham led the effort with three for 47, while Douthwaite took two for 24 in an excellent spell. Aakash Chand picked up two wickets but was expensive. Sudurpaschim managed only occasional boundaries late in the innings, ending on 193 for seven, a total that remains challenging but slightly underwhelming given their early dominance.
