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Wednesday at the Nepal Premier League (NPL) witnessed two nail-biting matches. Kathmandu Gurkhas clinched a three-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks in the first match, while Biratnagar Kings chased down the highest target of the tournament so far, defeating Lumbini Lions by two wickets in a dramatic finish.  

Kathmandu, winning the toss and electing to field at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, faced a target of 150 runs. They secured the win in 19.3 overs, thanks to Sumit Maharjan’s unbeaten 40 off 37 balls, which earned him the Player of the Match award. Captain Karan KC’s explosive 28 off 10 balls proved pivotal in the final moments.  

Batting first, Karnali posted 149/5 in their 20 overs, driven by Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 72 off 51 balls. However, Karnali’s captain Sompal Kami acknowledged that they fell short of a more competitive total. “We were 10-20 runs short on this wicket, and our death-over batting did not go as planned,” Kami said.  

Kathmandu’s chase began with early setbacks, but steady contributions from Maharjan and Gerald Erasmus (38 off 28 balls) turned the tide.  

“Sumit’s innings was mature and consistent. He took the game forward brilliantly,” said KC, who also highlighted areas for improvement in bowling during the final overs.  

For Karnali, it was their second consecutive defeat. Kami praised Dhawan’s leadership, emphasizing his vital role in guiding the team. “Dhawan’s composure and planning have been crucial. Our young players will learn from his example,” he added.  

This victory marked Kathmandu’s first win in the tournament.

Biratnagar Kings chased a daunting 192-run target to secure their first win of the season. Lokesh Bam played a starring role, scoring 71 off 47 balls and forming a vital 77-run partnership with Bashir Ahmed (40 off 23 balls) for the fifth wicket. Bam also shared insights into the team’s mindset and strategy. “Despite the big target, I went in with confidence. Before going out to bat, we discussed opening well and trusting each other to win,” Bam said.

Biratnagar’s chase came down to the wire, with Chris Sole’s unbeaten 14 off four balls sealing the game in the final over. “We planned to maintain a run rate of 11-12. I had told my teammates in the morning that we would win,” Bam added.

Despite misfields and conceding 29 extra runs, including half from Bam himself as wicketkeeper, the team’s calculated chase secured the dramatic victory. Bam acknowledged the challenges of the Tribhuvan University ground and emphasized adapting to its conditions. “The wicket here is tough to bat on. Nepali players should adapt and become match winners,” he noted.

Lumbini had earlier posted 191/7, with Rohit Paudel scoring a brisk 46 off 29 balls. However, the decision to have Bivek Yadav bowl the last over proved costly as he conceded 15 runs, handing the victory to Biratnagar. “Bivek was a better option for the final over, with two right-handers on strike. If I bowled, the game could’ve ended in three balls,” said captain Paudel, defending his choice.

Though Yadav contributed a fiery unbeaten 19 off seven balls with the bat, his bowling was expensive, conceding 64 runs in 23 deliveries.

This win marked a much-needed turnaround for Biratnagar after two losses, while Lumbini began their campaign with a defeat.

Biratnagar Kings defeated Lumbini Lions to register their first victory under the Nepal Premier League T20 cricket tournament on Wednesday.

In the match held at Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground, Biratnagar won the match against Lumbini by two wickets. This is the first win of Biratnagar kings in the ongoing NPL. Earlier, they had lost two consecutive matches.

Chasing the target of 192 runs posted by Lumbini Lions, Biratnagar Kings won the match in 19.5 overs at the loss of eight wickets.

For Biratnagar's win, Lokesh contributed the highest 71 runs off 47 balls with six sixes and three fours. Similarly, Basir Ahmed scored 40 runs, Martin Guptill 28, Crish Sole 14 and Dipak Bohara nine runs.

For the bowling side, Durgesh Gupta of Lumbini took three wickets while Ramon Simmonds and Saad Bin Zafar two wickets each. Likewise, Bibek Yadav took one wicket.

Earlier, invited to bat first after losing the toss, Lumbini Lions scored 191 runs in 20 overs by losing seven wickets.

Captain Rohit Paudel scored the highest 46 runs off 29 balls with two sixes and four fours. Similarly, Tom Moores 30, Bibek Yadav 19, Arjun Saud 17, Ashutosh Ghiraiya and Saad Bin Zafar 15 runs each and Sundeep Jora 12 runs.

The Lumbini Lions had also got 29 extra runs to their total.

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.