True Warriors sealed their spot in Qualifier 2 of the Bhutan T20 Smash 2022 with 77 runs win over Druk Gladiators today at the Jigmethang cricket ground, Thimphu. Namgay Thinley’s incredible four wicket haul and Ngawang Thinley’s all-round performance with both bat and bowl powered True Warriors to an easy 77 runs victory in a low scoring match Druk Gladiators chose to field after winning the toss and resulted in their favor as they got Kinga Loday out for a duck off the final ball in the first over by Deepak Verma caught by Sajibul Mai. Deepak Verma went on to get the second wicket off Namgay Thinley, trapping him LBW in the third over. Deepak Verma got rid of Kezang Nima for a duck as he was bowled out in the fifth over to claim his third wicket. True Warriors found themselves in a state of bother before Ngawang Thinley and Tarun Kumar added 41 runs for the fourth wicket partnership. The partnership was broken after Deepak Verma was brought back to bowl his final over and getting Tarun Kumar (21 off 29) and ending an impressive spell of 4 wickets and giving only 13 runs. Ngawang Thinley and skipper Prashant Chhetri started to pull back the innings for the team as the two added 46 runs partnership before Ngawang was caught by Sonam Dorji off Sahidul Islam’s bowl. Prashant Chhetri played a captain’s innings as he scored an unbeaten 40 off 30 balls taking the team total to 137. Druk Gladiator’s needed “run a ball” situation to take them forward and their openers did just that as Deepak Verma and Vijay Sagar Gundala scored 27 runs off the first three overs before losing Gundala, caught by Yueyong Phuntsho off Kinley Penjor’s bowling. ahidul Islam was trapped LBW by Namgay Thinley off his first bowl in the fourth over. Namgay Thinley went on to get his second wicket bowling out Gladiators skipper Deepak Verma in the seventh over. True Warrior bowlers were all over the Gladiator batsmen as non-of the batsmen managed to score in double digit as the team was all out for 60 runs in 12 overs. Namgay Thinley picked up four wickets whereas Kezang Nima picked 2 wickets and Ngawang got three wickets to thrash Gladiators by 77 runs. Namgay Thinley was declared the player of the match.
Thimphu Knights enter top two
Thimphu Knights defeated the Druk Gladiators by 40 runs to reach the top two spot of the ongoing Bhutan T20 Smash 2022 held at Jigmethang cricket ground, Thimphu. Knight, having won the toss chose to bat first and started brilliantly by openers Tandin Wangchuk and Pasa Wangdi bringing up 87 runs for the opening partnership. Tandin Wangchuk (64 off 38 balls) went on to score his first half century of the tournament which included nine boundaries. It took Gladiators 10.3 overs before Deepak Verma gave the first break-through getting Tandin Wangchuk caught by Noor Alan. Deepak Verma went on to get Knight’s other opening batsman Pasa Wangdi after a well-constructed 30 off 34 balls. Wickets started to tumble after a great start as Knight’s lost their third wicket Kencho Norbu bowled by Saha Alom. Deepak Verma went on to take his third wicket as Suman Pradhan was found out of the crease and his wickets disturbed through a direct under-arm throw registering a stumping for wicket-keeper Vijay Sagar. Knight’s tailender and hard-hitter Barun played a cameo of an innings scoring 20 off seven balls. Thimphu Knight’s ended their innings at 150 for the loss of seven wickets giving Druk Gladiators 151 to chase. Thimphu Knights youngster Kinley Penjor gave the start they needed picking up Gladiators main man Saha Alom caught by Barun Wakhley at mid-on. Kinley Penjor picked up his second when he came back for his second over to bowl out Somvir Yadav. Knight’s speedster Dawa got his first wicket bowling out Ashwani Tiwari in his third over as Gladiators kept losing wickets at a regular interval. Knight’s went on to get their fourth wicket of pricy batsman Sajibul Mai as he was stumped by Sanjog from behind. Noor Alan was bowled first ball off Tandin Wangchuk’s first ball as Gladiators lost half their side for just 33 runs. Skipper Deepak Verman was dismissed LBW in the next over by Suman Pradhan for his second. Sahidul Islam’s cameo of 30 runs off 18 balls came to an end as he was bowled by Kinley Penjor who was brought back for his third over. Tandin Wangchuk went on to get his second wicket that of Bappa Mia completing his quota of four overs giving just 13 runs. Kencho Norbu wrote his name on the wicket list as well, getting Sherub Gyeltshen caught and bowled to wrap up Druk Gladiators innings for 110, hence, losing by 40 runs. Tandin Wangchuk was adjudged the player of the match for his all-round performance.
Druk Gladiator’s topple SKD All Stars as table topper
Druk Gladiator’s Saha Alom hit an unbeaten 88 off 57 balls to outthrow SKD All Stars as table topper of the on-going Bhutan T20 Smash 2022. SKD All Star opener Jigme N Dorji (39 from 36 balls) and Khendrup Jangchub (43 off 19 balls) went bizarre after choosing to bat first putting up 76 runs opening partnership off 35 balls. Tandin Penjor compiled a composed 40 of 43 balls as SKD put up 180 target for the Gladiators. Druk Gladiator’s seemed to have planned an aggressive approach as openers Saha Alom (88 of 57 balls) and Aryan Verma (41 of 35 balls) went after the SKD bowlers bringing up the first century (108 runs) opening partnership of the tournament. Tashi Chophel was the pick of the bowlers with figures of one for 10 runs from 4 overs as rest of the bowlers struggled to restrict the momentum of the Gladiator’s firework. Saha Alom’s bizarre innings included seven 4s and five 6s as his unbeaten 88 takes his team to the top of the table and also earning him the player of the match.
Sajibul powers Gladiators to their second win
Leading the current stand for the highest run getter and player of the tournament table point, Druk Gladiator’s Sajibul Mai powers his team to a 5 wicket over the Paro Bluemoon Club to take them to the second position of the on-going Bhutan T20 Smash 2022 at Jigmethang cricket ground, Thimphu. Paro Bluemoon opener Tulsi Biswa and Sanjit Biswa started steadily scoring 39 runs opening partnership from six overs before Tulsi fell to Deepak Verma caught at slip by Sajibul Mai. Wicket-keeper batsman Kishen was sent back two overs later in a mix-up that caused him a run-out. New batsman Gem Tshering was stumped the first ball in the ninth over. Paro Bluemoon remaining batsman struggled as Sajibul Mai and Sahidul Islam kept troubling them ultimately completing the first innings at 137 for the loss of nine wickets from 20 overs. Druk Gladiators opener Vijay Sagar played the anchoring job for the team as he went on to score 47 of 47 balls before he was caught out by Pema Wangchuk of Sonam Tobgay’s bowling in the 17th over. Paro Bluemoon managed to get the wickets of Deepak Verma, Saha Alom and Aryan Verma but Sajibul Mai (44 of 24 balls) punished the drop catch errors from the Paro fielders as they went on to win the match by five wickets. Sajibul Mai was declared the Player of the match.