Lalitpur Patriots opened their account in 2017 TVS Everest Premier League with a commanding victory over Kathmandu Kings XI at Tribhuvan University Ground in Kirtipur.
Lalitpur’s Indian recruit Subodh Bahti (4/15 off 3.3) and local player Lalit Rajbanshi (3/14 off 4) wrecked the Kathmandu batting line-up in a misery spell of bowling in the middle overs. Mahboob Alam too got into the wickets, chipping in with 2/12.
The other Indian player in Lalitpur’s ranks, Yogesh Nagar also picked up a wicket giving away only 17 runs in his 4 overs. The batting was not much to write about with Anil Sreshtha (27 off 28) being the top-scorer for Kathmandu Kings XI. Sri Lankan Akshu Fernando (15 off 20) and Sompal Kami (14 off 17) managed to score some useful runs down the order but Kathmandu Kings XI were bowled out for only 89 runs in 18.3 overs.
Lalitpur had a disastrous start to their run-chase with Kami striking in the first over bowling out Pawan Sarraf without scoring. However, their joy was shortlived as Indian recruit, Jaykishan Kolsawala and Gyanendra Malla (20 off 20) forged a 54 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket before Fernando bowled him.
Fernando got the wicket of Yogesh Nagar soon thereafter to reduce Lalitpur to 64/3 in the 12th over.
