KATHMANDU: Chitwan Rhinos has made a winning start in the first edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) T-20 Cricket Tournament.

In the first match of the tournament, Chitwan defeated Biratnagar Kings by 8 runs. Biratnagar started the tournament with a defeat. In their first match, Biratnagar was all out for 149 runs in 19.3 overs.

Opening batsman Imran Sheikh scored 39 runs off 31 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Andre Russell scored 33 runs off 17 balls with the help of 4 sixes and 1 four. Lokesh Bam scored 26 runs, Shubham Ranjan 10, Bashir Ahmed 13 and Angelo Mathews 14 runs.

Kamal Singh Airee bowled brilliantly for Chitwan Rhinos. He took 4 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs. Rijan Dhakal took 2 wickets while Tom Taylor, Mausam Dhakal, Dan Mosley and Ranjit Kumar took 1-1 wickets.

Earlier, Chitwan, who lost the toss and opted to bat first at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, scored 157 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs. Opener Dawid Malan scored a half-century for them.

He scored 70 runs off 50 balls with 5 fours and 5 sixes. Skipper Ravi Bopara scored 32 runs and Dan Mosley scored 29 runs. Dev Khanal was dismissed for 12 runs. Angelo Mathews, Andre Russell and Charith Asanka took 1÷1 wickets each for Biratnagar. In the other match of the tournament, Janakpur Bolts and Karnali Yaks will be competing. The match between the two teams will start at 5:00 pm.

Eight teams are also competing in the ongoing edition of the NPL. The tournament will run till November 5.