CYC Attariya defied all odds to claim the Dhangadhi Premier League (DPL) title with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Mahendranagar United on Saturday.

At a buzzing Fapla Cricket Ground where more than 6,000 watched the final, consistent Indian recruit Sunny Patel slammed a six off tournament’s penultimate delivery against Abinash Bohora as the underdogs won their first ever title of one of the popular franchise league in domestic cricket.

Along with the title, Dipendra Singh Airee’s Attariya pocketed a cash bounty of Rs 3 million and runners-up United — led by Sharad Vesawkar — got Rs 1.2 million. Third-placed Kathmandu Goldens, who on Friday had boycotted the second Qualifier against United protesting over tournament technical committee’s decision to ban their Indian signing Ankit Dabas from bowling for illegal action, got Rs 400,000. Fourth-placed Rupandehi Challengers took home Rs 200,000.

Electing to bat first at the Fapla pitch where 148 remained the highest score, United made the most of Attariya’s sloppy work in the field to post a tricky final total of 123 all out in 20 overs. Attariya recovered through a crucial partnership between Airee and Patel before the latter put up yet another man-of-the-match performance steering the team to 127-7 with one ball to spare.

Opener Jaykishan Kolsawala made some runs from the top order making a 27-ball 30 with four boundaries but Attariya were still in danger reeling at 54-5 in 10 overs. Airee anchored the innings with Patel with a 38-run sixth wicket stand. But United’s Emirati pace bowler brought them back in the game clean bowling Airee for a watchful 35-ball 17 that included one boundary.

Naveed conceded just six runs in the 17th over leaving Attariya with 29 to get from last three overs. Patel then turned it around in the next over from Bohora who he hit for a six and a boundary to collect 15 runs. Naveed returned again for the 19th and got rid of new man Kamal Singh Airee (three) as Patel remained the only hope for Attariya.

Patel played Naveed towards the fine leg boundary collecting seven runs from the over as Bohora was once again left with little runs to defend in the last over. Bohora was at his best when he defended five runs against Rupandehi Challengers in the Eliminator and initially it looked like he was set for yet another great final-over burst.

Bohora, the latest entrant in the national team, gave away just four singles in the first four balls but Patel struck the fifth widish delivery for a six down the long on to give a grand closing to the tournament. Patel was unbeaten on 47 off 26 deliveries hitting three sixes and as many boundaries. Sagar Dhakal (2-17) and Naveed (2-19) shared four wickets between them for United.

Earlier, United lost their two foreign recruits Naveed (10) and Subramanian Anand (two) before Aarif Sheikh (11) stayed for a while with opener Dilip Nath in a 27-run partnership. But a sharp work between Airee and Patel saw them lose two wickets in a space of one run. Sheikh was first to go off Airee caught by Patel at forward short leg. Patel then removed skipper Sharad Vesawkar for a duck running him out from the same position a ball later.

From 42-4, Nath and Kushal Malla added 51 runs for the fifth wicket in a stand that saw Attariya giving lifeline to both the batsmen. Malla, who was dropped by Ramnaresh Giri off Thakuri, struck two sixes and a boundary off the same bowler before running himself out. He scored 25 off 22. Nath made 43 off 41 hitting five fours and a six. Rohit Kumar Paudel pushed the total with a 20-ball 24 hitting a six and a four. Airee took 2-24 from four overs.

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The final was thrilling. Sunny has experience and he was helping me well while batting. The way he was playing we were confident that we can finish it off in the last two overs. The pitch was playing good today compared to previous days so we thought that we could chase. When we were playing the first game, the bowlers gave us the outside chance and everyone started believing each other. Winning the first match helped us gain more confidence. The guys played really well throughout the tournament. As a Nepali player we can learn a lot from the foreign players and this tournament was another learning curve for every upcoming domestic player.  

- Dipendra Singh Airee

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To be on a winning side of the tournament is obviously a good feeling for everybody. It has always been very good playing in Nepal and this was my fifth league. Me and Dipendra had decided to bat deep no matter whatever the situation of the match was. We knew that we can score 30 to 35 runs in the last three overs. We had defended 95 runs in our first match and that day gave us a lot of confidence. We carried that confidence throughout the tournament and having Jonty (South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes) as our mentor kept us positive.

- Sunny Patel

Summary

CYC Attariya 127-7 in 19.5 overs (S Patel 57 not out, J Kolsawala 30, DS Airee 17; M Naveed 2-19, S Dhakal 2-17, S Alam 1-27) beat Mahendranagar United 123 all out in 20 overs (D Nath 43, K Malla 25, RK Paudel 24; D Rawat 2-11, DS Airee 2-24, S Patel 1-11) by three wickets

Man-of-the-final: S Patel (Attariya)

Man-of-the-series: S Patel (Attariya)