GLADIATORS BEAT KINGS XI BY 16 RUNS

Bhairahawa Gladiators have secured their place in the Second Qualifier as they beat Kathmandu Kings XI in the Eliminator match of the Bajaj Pulsar EPL by 16 runs. Despite a valiant lone-warrior all round heroics by KKXI’s Ashan Priyanjan, a superb overall team performance by the Gladiators muscled through the Kings XI.

The Gladiators’ captain Sharad Vesawkar won the toss and decided to bat first. Even though the veteran Bangladeshi opener Tamim Iqbal went early, the batsmen for Bhairahawa produced runs all throughout the batting order. The Gladiators captain Sharad produced an innings of great impact as he scored 49 off 20. Pradeep Airee, Upul Tharanga and Kushal Malla chipped in with valuable runs as the Gladiators put up a huge total of 188/8.

After his superb stint of 2/17 with the ball, Ashan Priyanjan was excellent with the bat too. His 68 off 48 balls comprising of 4 sixes and 5 fours kept the Kings XI in the hunt even though they lost wickets regularly. But as Priyanjan lost his wicket when KKXI required 46 off 20 balls, it was too much work for the KKXI lower order. In their 20 overs, they could only make their way to 172/8 and fell 16 runs short. The Gladiators’ captain Sharad Veswakar was judged as the Man of the Match for his batting effort of 49(20).

KKXI’s tournament ended after this loss, meanwhile Gladiators will face the Pokhara Rhinos in the second qualifier to finalize who will play against Chitwan Tigers in the Grand Final of the Bajaj Pulsar EPL.