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Kathmandu Gurkhas defeated Karnali Yaks by three wickets  in the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Wednesday.

Karnali Yaks were invited to bat first after losing the toss in the match held at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. They posted a total of 149 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. In response, Kathmandu Gurkhas chased down the 150-run target in 19.3 overs, losing seven wickets.

Sumit Maharjan remained not out on 40. He faced 37 balls, hitting three boundaries and one six. Gerhard Erasmus also contributed 38 runs off 28 balls, including three boundaries and two sixes. Captain Karan KC made 28 runs off 10 balls, hitting two boundaries and two sixes. Michael Levitt added 22 runs, including two boundaries and one six.

Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Zeeshan Maqsood, and Bipin Sharma each took one wicket for Karnali Yaks.

Earlier, for Karnali Yaks, Shikhar Dhawan scored an impressive 72 not out off 51 balls, including four boundaries and five sixes. Chadwik Walton made 21 runs off 15 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Babar Hayat contributed 13 runs off 18 balls. Gulshan Jha scored 12 runs off 19 balls, and Zeeshan Maqsood added 14 runs off 11 balls.

Towards bowling, Gerhard Erasmus of Kathmandu Gurkhas took two wickets. Nathan Sowter, Dipesh Kandel, and captain Karan KC each claimed one wicket.

The second match on Tuesday at the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, featured a clash between two Kushals—Pokhara Avengers’ captain Kushal Bhurtel and Chitwan Rhinos’ skipper Kushal Malla. It was a nightmare for Bhurtel’s side as Pokhara, in their first NPL game, suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Malla’s team.

Batting first, the Rhinos set a competitive total of 161/7 in 20 overs. Ravi Bopara anchored the innings with a composed 51 off 38 balls, supported by skipper Malla’s quickfire 38 off 23 deliveries. Despite early setbacks, their crucial 50-run partnership stabilized the innings, with Amar Routela adding late fireworks with an unbeaten 13 off six balls. For Pokhara, Raymon Reifer and Bas de Leede picked up two wickets each, preventing further damage.

Pokhara’s chase disintegrated spectacularly, as they were bowled out for just 74 runs in 13.2 overs. Sohail Tanvir delivered a devastating spell, claiming three wickets in his first over and conceding only six runs overall. Rijan Dhakal and Luc Benkenstein also picked up three wickets apiece, ensuring the Avengers never recovered.

Pokhara’s batting lineup crumbled during the powerplay, scoring a mere 16 runs while losing six wickets.  At one point, they had scored just seven runs for the loss of six wickets. Narayan Joshi’s 30 off 24 balls was the only saving grace in an otherwise dismal batting display, while captain Bhurtel endured the embarrassment of a golden duck.

The Rhinos’ disciplined bowling attack and sharp fielding set the tone for a one-sided affair. Tanvir’s fiery opening spell and Bhurtel’s early dismissal defined the match, propelling Chitwan to the top of the table with four points after winning both of their games.

Despite the crushing defeat, Pokhara Avengers coach Rajiv Kumar remained optimistic. “Sometimes in cricket, you get all out for low scores. This was our first match of the tournament, and we batted poorly due to some mistakes. On the other hand, Chitwan had good bowlers who bowled in the right areas,” said Kumar, who previously served as the batting coach for IPL’s Chennai Super Kings.

Kumar emphasized that the Avengers have a strong batting lineup and vowed to address the team’s shortcomings. Reflecting on the shocking collapse, he added, “Nobody wants to be in that situation. We’ll analyze what went wrong and work to bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.”

Biratnagar lose again

In the first match on Tuesday, Sudurpaschim Royals cruised to a commanding 90-run victory over Biratnagar Kings. With this, Sudurpaschim has started their NPL journey with a victory while Biratnagar lost both games they played. Earlier, they were defeated by Janakpur Bolts in the inaugural match of NPL.

After being put in to bat, Sudurpaschim posted a competitive total of 182/7 in 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten knock of 57 from captain Dipendra Singh Airee, who struck three fours and five sixes off just 24 balls. This is the highest total in the tournament so far. Brandon McMullen (36) and Binod Bhandari (23) provided solid support, though the Royals lost regular wickets. 

In response, Biratnagar Kings struggled to chase the target, collapsing to 92 all out in 16.1 overs. None of their batsmen could build partnerships, and they were dismissed cheaply, with the Royals’ bowlers, led by Scott Kuggeleijn (3/30) and Abinash Bohara (3/17), dominating the Kings’ batting lineup. Martin Guptill was a duck. Biratnagar’s skipper Lamichhane is yet to take any wickets in this tournament. 

Airee’s all-around performance earned him the Player of the Match award as his side secured a comfortable win. He expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, saying, “The first match is done, and I am very happy. I was able to help my team win by playing well. Now, I plan to perform well in the remaining matches.” 

He noted that the wicket was slow initially, prompting him to focus on singles and doubles. As the team’s finisher, he aimed to bat last, which contributed to the team’s success. He also praised his bowlers, particularly highlighting McMullen’s ability to swing the ball, which suited the pitch conditions.

Nepal U19 edge past Afghanistan

In a nail-biting contest at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Nepal U19 secured a dramatic one-wicket win over Afghanistan Under-19s in the 10th Group B match of the ACC Under-19s Asia Cup on Tuesday. The victory came with 51 balls to spare, as Nepal chased down a modest target of 124 runs.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack, collapsing to 123 all out in 35.4 overs. Faisal Shinozada’s 52 off 67 balls was the lone standout performance for Afghanistan, while Nepal’s Santosh Yadav and Unish Thakuri claimed three wickets apiece. Hemant Dhami and Abhisekh Tiwari chipped in with two wickets each to keep Afghanistan under pressure.

Nepal’s chase, however, was far from straightforward. Wickets tumbled regularly as Afghanistan's AM Ghazanfar and Khatir Stanikzai took three scalps each, putting Nepal on the back foot. At one stage, Nepal was teetering at 115/9. Captain Hemant Dhami (22 not out off 33 balls) held his nerve to guide his team to victory, supported by tailender Unish Thakuri.

With this win, Nepal moves to third place in Group B, keeping their tournament hopes alive. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remains winless after three matches, languishing at the bottom of the table.

Sudurpaschim Royals started their journey on an encouraging note by defeating Biratnagar Kings in their first match under the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket tournament.

Sudurpaschim Royals thrashed Biratnagar Kings by 90 runs in today's match held at Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground.

This is the second consecutive loss for the Biratnagar Kings in the tournament.

For Biratnagar, Bashir Ahmed scored 24 runs off 28 balls while Rajesh Pulami Magar made 15 runs off nine balls and Anil Kharel 10 runs. Other batters failed to score in double digits.

Sudurpaschim Royals' Abinash Bohara and Scott Kuggeleijn took three wickets each while Brandon McMullen and Saif Zaib claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim Royal made 182 runs in 20 overs losing seven wickets. Invited to bat first losing the toss, Captain Dipendra Singh Airee contributed 57 runs off 24 balls (not out) while Brandon McMullen 36 runs off 26 balls and Binod Bhandari 23 runs off 20 balls.

Similarly, Ishan Pandey gathered 21 runs, Aarif Sheikh nine runs and Saif Zaib14 runs.

For Biratnagar Kings, Anil Kharel took three wickets while Ismat Alam, Basir Ahmed and Crish Sole one wicket each.

In the second match of the second day of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), the Janakpur Bolts defeated the Karnali Yaks by eight wickets at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Chasing a target of 142 runs, Janakpur comfortably reached the target in just 15.1 overs. This win places them at the top of the league table with four points, boasting two wins from two games.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the Karnali Yaks struggled to build momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals. Captain Sompal Kami’s explosive knock of 29 runs off 13 balls and Arjun Gharti’s quickfire 33 off 22 balls salvaged their innings, helping them post a total of 141/7 in 20 overs. Star player Shikhar Dhawan, however, managed only 14 runs off 14 balls.

The Bolts’ bowlers were disciplined, with Mohammad Mohsin (4-0-14-2) and Lalit Rajbanshi (4-0-16-1) delivering standout performances. Harsh Thaker and Jimmy Neesham also contributed with crucial wickets.

Janakpur’s chase was anchored by skipper Anil Sah, who remained unbeaten on 62 off 42 balls. He was well-supported by Aasif Sheikh (36 off 29 balls) and Lahiru Milantha (24 off 13 balls). Neesham sealed the victory with a brisk 16 not out off eight balls, finishing the chase in style.

Karnali’s bowlers struggled to contain the opposition. Zeeshan Maqsood (4-0-33-1) and Mousom Dhakal (2.1-0-25-1) claimed wickets, but the target proved insufficient to defend. On paper, Karnali’s lineup is among the strongest in the league, yet they were outperformed by Janakpur.

Earlier, in the first game on Monday, the Chitwan Rhinos secured a decisive five-wicket victory over the Kathmandu Gurkhas in a low-scoring match. After electing to field, the Rhinos’ bowlers, led by Player of the Match Sohail Tanvir, dismantled the Gurkhas’ batting lineup. Tanvir’s stellar performance of 5/21 in four overs, including key wickets like Stephen Eskinazi and captain Karan KC, left the Gurkhas struggling. Despite resistance from Sumit Maharjan (29 off 41) and Michael Levitt (25 off 16), the Gurkhas could only post a modest 111/9 in 20 overs.

In response, the Rhinos chased down the target with 17 balls to spare, finishing at 114/5 in 17.1 overs. While Shahab Alam impressed with 3/20 for the Gurkhas, the Rhinos’ batting depth, including contributions from Luc Benkenstein (22 off 17), Santosh Karki (28* off 31), and Sharad Vesawkar (11* off 21), ensured a comfortable win.

Tanvir praises Nepali fans

“Playing cricket in front of Nepali fans is a fun experience,” said the 39-year-old Pakistani bowler Tanvir, who won the IPL title with Rajasthan in 2008 and was part of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup-winning team in 2009.

He became the first player to claim five wickets in a single NPL match. “If you can’t play cricket in front of an audience, it’s no fun. I had watched a video about Nepali cricket fans before. That’s why I was expecting a lot of supporters in today’s match as well. I want to thank all the fans who came to the field today.”

He also emphasized his desire to support young players in the Chitwan team by sharing his vast experience. “We have young players in our team. I am ready to share my 20 years of experience, not just for my team but for others as well. I have already informed the team management that I’m eager to support Nepali cricket in every way.”

Tanvir highlighted the potential of the NPL in improving Nepal’s cricketing standards. “If this league continues in the coming days, it will greatly benefit Nepali cricket. I started my T20 career with the IPL, and since then, T20 cricket has evolved a lot.”

Reflecting on his performance, Tanvir attributed his success to experience and strategic bowling. “I have played more than 400 cricket matches, and that experience worked today. I bowled by observing the conditions. Bowling in T20s is never easy, especially on a slow pitch like today’s. It was a lucky day for me because I bowled according to the plan, and it worked,” he said.

Tuesday will feature doubleheaders, with the Sudurpaschim Royals taking on the Biratnagar Kings at 9:15 am, followed by the Chitwan Rhinos facing the Pokhara Avengers at 1.15 pm. Biratnagar, coming off a defeat, will aim to bounce back, while Chitwan looks to secure a second consecutive win. Meanwhile, Sudurpaschim and Pokhara will be seeking their first victories in their opening NPL games.