Malla’s decision to field first at the Tribhuvan University Stadium was justified by Indian seamer Subodh Bhati and Nepali left-arm spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, who shared seven wickets between them to skittle out Kings XI for just 89 runs in 18.3 overs. Another India recruit Jaykishan Kolsawala did the rest as the opener carried the bat leading Patriots to 90-3 in 16.4 overs.
Malla was happy to open the tournament on a winning note against a Kings XI squad that had a long batting lineup. “Everyone of us, including the franchises, were eager to know how the first match was going to unfold. We found a good start. The bowlers did extremely well today,” said Malla. “We managed to pick regular wickets and that was key to our victory. I think the opponents were under pressure about the total that could have been safe according to the pitch. Winning the first match is a big motivation factor,” said Malla.
Patriots choked Kings XI batting once Bhati removed opener Sagar Pun (four) in the second over. Mehboob Alam then got rid of Naresh Budhayer (duck) and Maharoof (seven) in quick succession before Rajbanshi dealt a hammer blow. Rajbanshi dismissed Raju Rijal (0) and Indian cricketer Sagar Kumar (7) in quick succession before getting the prized scalp of Kings XI opener Amit Shrestha leaving the opponent tottering at 53-6 in 12.4 overs.
Another Kings XI Sri Lankan recruit Akshu Fernando and their marquee player Sompal Kami led a brief fight notching up their highest partnership of the day—30 runs—for the seventh wicket.
But the collapse resumed for Kings XI as they lost their last four wickets for just six runs. Fernando made 15 off 20 with two boundaries and Kami hit a four in his 17-ball 14 before both fell prey to Bhati, who also dismissed Jitendra Mukhiya. Bhati
took 4-15 from 3.3 overs and man-of-the-match Rajbanshi returned the figures of 3-14 from four overs.
Rajbanshi, who bowled 17 dots in his spell, said it was pre-match plan that worked for him. “The wicket was quite slow and it helped the bowlers. We had planned to bowl as much dot balls as possible to put them under pressure and it worked for us. The best thing is that we have begun the tournament with a victory,” said Rajbanshi.
Patriots had a miserable start after losing opener Pawan Sarraf for a duck to Kami in the second ball of their reply. However, Kolsawala and Malla eased the chase with a 54-run partnership for the second wicket. Patriots lost two wickets in a space of six runs after Fernando removed Malla and former Delhi Daredevils cricketer Yogesh Nagar (two).
The double blow hardly mattered as Kolsawala took the team across the finishing line with a 26-run unbroken stand for the fourth wicket with Rajbir Singh, who made a run-a-ball 14 with two boundaries. Kolsawala struck four boundaries and two sixes in his 48-ball 44 not out.
On Tuesday, Chitwan Tigers will take on Pokhara Rhinos and Patriots will meet Biratnagar Warriors.
Summary
Lalitpur Patriots 90-3 in 16.4 overs (J Kolsawala 44 not out, G Malla 20; A Fernando 2-19, S Kami 1-12) beat Kathmandu Kings XI 89 all out in 18.2 overs (A Shrestha 27, A Fernando 17; S Bhati 4-15, LN Rajbanshi 3-14) by seven wickets
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