With an easy nine-wicket win over the Paro Bluemoon cricket club, Wandue Radaps made clear intentions of giving other teams something to consider when they face them next.  Paro Bluemoon openers Sonam Tobgay and Sanjit Biswa started with ease getting to 34 from 4 overs, however, the scenario of the game changed completely with the fall of Sanjit Biswa who top scored with 27 runs of 20 balls.  Wangdue Radaps right-arm medium pacer Kencho Chophel left the opponent batsman with no answers to his consistent line and length landing him 4 wickets for 23 runs in 4 overs. On the other side left-arm pacer Pema Loday kept troubling the Paro Bluemoon batsman fetching him 2 wickets for 22 from 3 overs. Sangay Nima and Deki Phuntsho picked up a wicket each to bundle up Paro Bluemoon innings for total of 82.  Wangdue Radap openers Pema Dorji and Ram Chandra seemed to have a game plan as they elected to play more on the ground and churned the singles and the doubles before Pema Dorji fell to a quick run out by Sonam Tobgay at total score of 28 in 5 overs.  After the fall of the first wicket Ram Chandra (32* from 38 balls) and Tsheltrim Yoezer (30* of 30 balls) took the Wangdue Radaps home with an easy nine wicket victory.  Wangdue Radaps Kencho Chophel was declared the Player of the Match. 

Team Dantak XI managed to snatch a win from jaws of defeat against Druk Gladiators by 2 runs during the fifth match of the on-going Bhutan T20 Smash 2022. Having faced a similar encounter in the first match of the tournament which ended in a tie Dantak needed a win to keep their journey alive for the rest of the tournament. The match was earlier reduced by 2 overs a side due to wet pitch.  Opting to bat first Dantak openers Lad Shrikant and Pawan Mehta started decently putting up 18 from 2 overs before Shrikant was bowled by Sajibul Mai. Druk Gladiators picked up their second wicket bowling out Ramesh Chand who managed to score 4 runs. However, it was Pawan Kumar who took control of Dantak’s innings blasting 58 of 35 balls to set up 146 runs target for the Druk Gladiators to chase. Dantak’s speedster Vinay Singh gave team the dream start in the second innings bowling Aryan Verma of his fourth delivery. Saha Alom and Ashwani Tiwari put up 37 runs stand for the second wicket before Saha Alom was run out by Pawan Mehta. Srikant Hananmant got the best of Ashwani Tiwari bowling him out to give Dantak their third wicket at a total score of 41. Dantak picked up their fourth team wicket and the third in the same over in the form of Vijay Sagar Gundala who was send back without troubling the score. Druk Gladiators were in all sorts of trouble as they lost yet another wicket in Noor Alan. However, Gladiators skipper Deepak Verma and Sajibul Mai had other plans as the two started to slowly built the innings. Deepak Verma played the anchoring job while player of the match from their first match Sajibul Mai carried on with his usual attacking batting as the two added 70 runs partnership before Deepak was bowled by Vinay Singh from the first ball of the 12th over. Vinay Singh went on to bowl Varun Amar in the same over ending with figure of 3 for 27 runs from 4 overs. On the other side Gladiators Sajibul Mai looked to consolidate the loss with few big sixers before falling leg before wicket (LBW) to Pawan Mehta. The game stood at 132 for loss of 8 wickets needing 13 runs from final 2 overs. Pawan Mehta came back to bowl his final over where he picked up S Y needing only one wicket to win. Dantak XI seemed troubled as to whom the ball should go and ultimately gambled and resorted to Yespal Singh’s off-spin who hasn’t bowled an over yet in the match. The gambling proved match winning when Sahidul Islam tried to slash the ball hard through the point region which went straight to Ramesh Chands’s hands to give Dantak their first win of the tournament. Vinay Singh was adjourned the Player of the Match.  

Wangdue Radaps and Dantak Cricket shared a point each as both teams failed to snatch a win in what was a nail-biting end during the third game of the on-going Bhutan T20 Bash 2022.  Earlier due to bad light and wet outfield the had been match to 10 overs a side. Wangdue Radap’s opener Pema Dorji was sent back to the pavilion in the third over off Yatin Arora’s bowling with 18 on the scoreboard. Wangdue Radap’s Ram Chandra took charge of the innings as he went on to score 38 of 27 balls (3X6s).  On the other side, contribution from Jigme Tenzin (14runs) and Deki Phuntsho (12runs) helped post 86 runs for the Dantak to chase.  Dantak’s Rupesh Tripathi found himself in a mix-up giving Wangdue Radap their first wicket. On the other side Radaps left arm pacer Pema Loday trapped William Rana leg before wicket (LBW) for their second wicket. Pema Loday went on to get his second and teams third as he bowled out Vinay Singh who was looking dangerous.  The game however, took turn in the sixth over as Dantak’s Vinay Singh scored 20 runs of 4 balls from Tsheltrim Yoezer’s bowling before getting bowled out. Pawan Kumar hit 2 sixers in the eight over as Dantak needed 15 of 12 balls from 2 overs.  Radaps Ram Chandra took the responsibility of the ninth over and bowled brilliantly giving only five runs as Dantak required nine runs from the final over. Deki Phuntsho bowled with pace as Dantak talenders snatched double runs to see themselves needing 3 off the last ball. Lad Shrikant hit the ball long off and managed two runs before he was run-out at the wicket-keepers end that saw the game end in a tie.  Wangdue Radaps Ram Chandra Mongar was declared the Player of the Match.

The defending champions SKD All Stars went pass Thimphu Knights by 44 runs to register their first win of the tournament today at Jigmethang ground, Thimphu in the on-going Bhutan T20 Smash 2022.  SKD won the toss and chose to bat in the afternoon and fourth match of the tournament. Captain Jigme N Dorji and Sanjeevan Raj started the first innings smoothly with 45 runs stand for the opening partnership. Sanjeevan looked in good touch hitting two big sixers before being bowled by Barun Wakhley. Thimphu Knights didn’t take long for their second wicket in the form of Tshering Rigden who was run out by Sanjog Chettri.  SKD All Stars lost wickets on a regular interval where on the other side Jigme Dorji (44 of 44 balls) steered the innings and played the captain’s innings before getting bowled by Dawa. After the end of 20 overs SKD All Stars put up 159 runs target.    Knight’s opener Tandin Wangchuk failed to bring the previous power hitting as he was bowled in the fourth over by Tandin Wangdi when the total score was 29. Suprit Pradhan also couldn’t keep up with the required run rate as he tried to go for big and landed up being caught by Khendrup at mid-on position of Tashi Chophel’s bowling.  Knight’s kept losing wickets on a regular basis credit to some smart bowling from Yowon Pradhan who ended up with figure of 4 for 5 runs in 3 overs. Barun Wakhley (22 of 18 balls) and Suraj Bhattarai (24 of 31 balls) tried to show some resilience but at the end it was SKD All Stars who bagged an easy win over the Knight’s by 44 runs.  SKD All Stars Yowon Pradhan was announced the Player of the Match. 

Thimphu Knights managed to hold on to their nerves to win by two wickets against the Paro Bluemoon in a thrilling finish to the second match of the Bhutan T20 Smash 2022.  After winning the toss Paro Bluemoon captain choose to bat first. Knight’s speedster Dawa gave the perfect start bowling Ngawang Tshering for a duck. Dawa went on to get his second wicket of Sonam Tobgay who was caught behind by wicket-keeper Sanjog.  The third wicket pair of Sanjit Biswa and Tulsi Biswa showed some resistance adding 35 runs partnership before Tulsi was caught by Suprit Pradhan off Chirag Sharma’s bowl. Sanjit made an important 26 runs as Paro set up 125 runs target.  Paro Bluemoon started off brilliantly getting Knights opener Pasa Wangdi leg before wicket (LBW) from the second ball of the first over. Captain Suprit joined Pasa back in the pavilion after getting bowled out by Pema Wangchuk at a total score of 25.  Thimphu Knight kept losing wickets on a regular basis as they saw themselves struggling at 83 for the loss of 7 wickets before Suman Pradhan (25 runs not out) and Kinley Penjor (19 runs) added some crucial runs (30 runs partnership) to close the gap before losing Kinley to Hritesh Barman.  Thimphu Knights Barun Wakhley feast pumped the air as he managed to flick the ball towards the leg side boundary to give Knights the winning run. Knights Tandin Wangchuk was adjourned the Man of the Match.  Wandue Radaps will take on team Dantak in the third match of the tournament tomorrow while Thimphu Knights will play their second match against the defending champions SKD All Stars in the following afternoon match.

In the opening match of Bhutan T20 Smash 2022, Druk Gladiators beat True Warriors by 69 runs at Jigmethang ground, Thimphu.  True Warriors elected to field first after winning the toss.  Druk Gladiators quick Thukten Yoezer gave the early break-through bowling out Vijay Sagar just the third ball into the first over. Thukten continued to trouble the opponent as he went on to claim his second wicket in the form of Aryan Verma caught by Tandin Needup at point.  Saha Alom and Ashwani Tiwari fought back with 59 runs partnership for the third wicket before Saha Alom was caught by Yueyong Phuntsho in Soenam Jamtsho’s bowling. Soenam went on to get his second wicket and bowl out Ashwani Tiwari in the same over.  However, the Gladiators captain Deepak Verma and Sajibul had better plans as both went on to punish the True Warriors bowlers for the drop catches and fielding errors and went on to add 105 runs for the fourth wicket. Sajibul Mai fired a blistering 50 of 26 balls (6X6s) before falling short of the crease for a run-out. Captain Deepak contributed important 35 runs before getting bowled out by Yueyong Phuntsho. True Warriors speedster Thukten came back to bowl his final over and picked up his third wicket but it was Druk Gladiators who pocketed massive 221 runs in their 20 overs.  True Warriors started poorly losing both their openers, Kinga Loday and Soenam Jamtsho and their main batsman Tarun at a total score of 37.  Kezang Nima and Sanjay Pradhan tried to steer the sinking ship as they went on to add 59 runs stand for the fourth wicket before Sajibul was bowled out by Sanjay. It was all over when Kezang Nima (78 off 46 balls) was bowled by Noor Alan.