EPL: Bhairahawa Gladiators and Biratnagar Warriors register victories KATHMANDU:The Bhairahawa Gladiators and Biratnagar Warriors have both registered victories in the Everest Premier League played at the TU Cricket Stadium, in Kirtipur, on Wednesday. In today's first game, Biratnagar Warriors clinched 3 wickets victory over Pokhara Rhinos. After winning the toss, Biratnagar skipper Paras Khadka opted to field first in a bowler friendly pitch. Pokhara Rhinos led by former Nepali International Shakti Gauchan managed to muster a meagre total of 122/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Israrullah, a Pakistani recruit in the side, who earlier single handadely won the match for his team, fell leg before wicket to Paras Khadka. Israrullah scored a brisk 21 of 16 deliveries with a towering six and three fours. Pokhara Rhinos lost two quick wickets of Basanta Bhandari and Asif Ali for 4 and 1 runs respectively. At one stage, Rhinos were reeling at 67/4 in the mid of their innings. However, Rajesh Pulami Magar steadied the ship with his measured innings of 30 runs of 35 deliveries. Sunil Dhamala contributed 18 runs while tailenders Saurav Khanal and Taj Wali made 16 and 18 runs respectively. Skipper Khadka was pick of the bowler with 4-0-28-3. Strike bowler Karan KC, Basanta Regmi, Avinash Karn and Ramnaresh Giri chipped in with a wicket each. In reply, Biratnagar Warriors Anshuman Rath played a match winning knock to take his side home with seven wickets and 2 balls remaining. Pokhara Rhinos dented their run chase by removing Aasif Sheikh for two and Basanta Regmi for naught. However, Rath anchored the chase with fire-for-ice innings of 60 runs off 61 deliveries with six fours and two humongous sixes. Rhinos managed to peg back Warriors run chase by taking four wickets for 16 runs. Pakistani recruit Babar Hayat scored 22 runs and skipper managed 11 runs where as other batsmen failed to score double digit runs in a tight affair. Rath was run out by Israrullah with the team still needing 10 runs for victory with 8 balls remaining. However, there was no twist in the tail as the tailenders  took the side home. Rath was later adjudged man-of-the-match for his match winning knock of 60 runs. In the second match of the day, Kathmandu Kings XI led by former Sri Lankan One Day International player Farveez Maharoof lost second game in trot against the Bhairahawa Gladiators by seven wickets. After winning the toss, Kathmandu opted to bat first and managed to post 118/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Kathmandu shared an opening partnership of 31 runs in the seven overs. Sagar Pun is running out of form as he managed to muster 15 runs of 21 ball with two hits to the boundary. Amit Shrestha top scored for his team with 29 runs of 32 balls with four fours. Sagar Kumar contributed 28 runs of 25 balls while wicket-keeper Raju Rijal hit 22 runs of 30 balls. Skipper Fervez Maharoof once again failed with the bat as he hit 7 runs of 3 balls with a six. Right arm medium pacer Dipesh Shrestha was pick of the bowler with 3-0-16-3. Skipper Veswakar took two wickets while Indian recruit Praneet Mehra and Aarif Sheikh took a wicket each. In reply,Bhairahawa won the game by seven wickets and 22 balls to spare. Gladiators lost two quick wickets with just 24 runs on the board. Skipper Veswakar relaid the foundation of innings with his 32 runs of 31 balls with two fours and a six before being caught and bowl by Sushil Kandel. Indian recruit Puneet Bisht and Aarif Sheikh shared an unbroken partnership of 34 runs for the fourth wicket to take their team home. Bisht played a whirlwind inning of 42 runs of 28 deliveries that included six fours while Sheikh smashed 23 runs of 11 balls with three fours and a maximum. Spearhead Sompal Kami, spinner Amar Routela and Sushil Kandel picked wicket each. Skipper Sharad Veswakar all round performance with the bat and ball earned him the man of the match trophy.