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Karnali Yaks defeated Pokhara Avengers by seven wickets in today's second match under Nepal Premier League (NPL) T20 cricket tournament.

Batting first after winning the toss in the match held at TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Pokhara scored 103 runs losing all the wickets in 16.3 overs.

Dinesh Kharel scored the highest 26 runs for Pokhara while Andries Gauss scored 25, Ramon Reffer 20, captain Kushal Bhurtel and Bipin Khatri scored 10 each.

For the bowling side, William Bosisto took six wickets for Karnali. Similarly, captain Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma and Yunish Thakuri took one wicket each.

In reply, Karnali surpassed the Pokhara total in 15 overs, at the loss of three wickets.

Gulsan Jha scored an unbeaten 49 for Karnali. Similarly, Chadwick Walton (42) was another notable contributor to Karnali's win.

For Pokhara, Bipin Khatri, Sagar Dhakal and Kushal Bhurtel took one wicket each.

This is Karnali's third win in five matches so far while Pokhara have suffered their third loss in four matches.

Lumbini Lions finally secured a long-awaited victory, defeating Chitwan Rhinos by 33 runs in the 16th match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. This win was crucial for Lumbini, who had been struggling with four consecutive losses and were in danger of elimination. With this win on Tuesday, Lumbini Lions have revived their chances, though they remain slim in the tournament.

The victory came thanks to a stellar all-round performance from Lumbini’s captain, Rohit Paudel. Paudel, who also leads the Nepal national team, played a match-winning role with both bat and ball. He top-scored with 80 runs off 57 balls, including six fours and five sixes, and followed it up with impressive bowling figures of four wickets for just 17 runs. His exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

Lumbini posted a competitive total of 167/6 in their 20 overs, with contributions from Saad Bin Zafar, who scored a quick-fire 52 off 35 balls. Despite a challenging start, Lumbini recovered through a crucial 114-run partnership between Rohit and Zafar.

Chasing a target of 168, Chitwan Rhinos never looked comfortable. Lumbini’s bowlers, led by Paudel, kept the pressure on with tight spells. Chitwan’s top order collapsed early, and they were restricted to 134/8 in their 20 overs. Paudel’s all-round brilliance helped Lumbini seal a comprehensive win and break their losing streak.

In a post-match interview, Paudel expressed his relief, saying, “We needed a win today, and I’m happy to contribute to the team's success. This is one of my best performances, and I’m glad it helped us turn things around.” His form has been a bright spot in the NPL, with 261 runs in five matches, making him the highest run-scorer so far. He also sits fifth on the list of highest wicket-takers with seven wickets.

Looking ahead, Paudel emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum, saying, “If we win the remaining two matches and other results go our way, we can still make the playoffs. We have to focus on our own performance and leave the rest to fate.”

Chitwan’s coach, Umesh Patwal, also praised Paudel for his exceptional performance. “Rohit is one of my students, and I’m proud to see him leading the NPL as the top scorer. It’s a great achievement for Nepali cricket.”

In the second match on Tuesday, Karnali Yaks triumphed over Pokhara Avengers by seven wickets with 30 balls to spare. Chasing a target of 104, Karnali reached the target in just 15 overs, with a comfortable win marking their third victory in five matches.

Pokhara Avengers, batting first, posted a modest total of 103 all out in 16.3 overs. Despite a solid start from Dinesh Kharel (26 off 19 balls) and Andries Gous (25 off 12 balls), they struggled to build partnerships, losing wickets regularly. William Bosisto was the standout performer with the ball, taking a remarkable six wickets for 28 runs, becoming the first player to claim six wickets in an innings in the ongoing NPL.

Karnali’s bowling attack was equally potent, with Sompal Kami (1/26) and Bipin Sharma (1/21) also contributing to the dismissal of Pokhara’s batting line-up.

In reply, Karnali Yaks started cautiously, losing two early wickets. However, Chadwick Walton’s 42 off 34 balls and Gulsan Jha’s unbeaten 49 off 37 balls steered them to victory. The pair shared a crucial 60-run partnership, taking Karnali across the finish line.

Bosisto was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance.

Wednesday will also feature a double-header. The 18th match will see Janakpur Bolts take on Sudurpaschim Royals at 9:00 am. Following that, the 19th match will be between Kathmandu Gurkhas and Lumbini Lions.

Lumbini Lions defeated Chitwan Rhinos by 33 runs on Tuesday.

In today's first match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) held at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground at Kirtipur, the 'all-round' performance by Captain Rohit Paudel contributed to the Lumbini Lions' win.

Chitwan, who were chasing a 168-run victory target posted by Lumbini, could score only 134 runs at the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

Luc Benkenstein scored the highest 31 runs for Chitwan. Similarly, skipper Kushal Malla hit 20 runs with the help of one boundary and one six in 17 balls while Ravi Bopara made12 runs in 16 balls.

Captain Paudel took four wickets, Ramon Simmonds two wickets, and Saad Bin Zafar and Abhisesh Gautam took one wicket each for Lumbini. 

Invited to bat first after losing the toss, Lumbini scored 167 runs in the 20 overs, losing six wickets. Captain Paudel scored the highest 80 runs for Lumbini. He hit six fours and five sixes in 68 balls.

Similarly, Zafar made unbeaten 52 runs with the help of four boundaries and one six in 35 balls while Arjun Saud scored 15 runs and Tom Moores made 10 runs for Lumbini.

For Chitwan, Rijan Dhakal took three wickets while captain Kushal Malla and Ranjit Kumar took one wicket each.

With this, Lumbini, which secured their first score, climbed to fifth place.

Chitwan are in third place with three wins and two defeats in five matches they have played so far.

Janakpur Bolts are in the top place of the scoreboard with victory in all matches they have played so far.

Monday served as a much-needed break day for the teams in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024, offering a brief respite before the competition resumes. As the league stage reaches its halfway mark, the intensity is rising, with six out of the eight teams having played four matches each and the remaining two teams having played three matches each. With the teams now more familiar with the conditions and the stakes rising, the competition is becoming even more exciting.

At the top of the table, Janakpur Bolts continue to maintain their unbeaten record. Their remarkable run includes four consecutive wins, starting with a victory over Biratnagar Kings in the tournament opener, followed by wins against Karnali Yaks, Pokhara Avengers, and most recently, a close encounter against Lumbini Lions. With eight points from four matches, Janakpur has firmly established themselves as the team to beat and looks set to secure a playoff spot. 

Sudurpaschim Royals, sitting in second place with six points from four matches, are hot on Janakpur’s heels. The Royals boast the highest net run rate in the league (+2.188), which is a significant advantage. Despite suffering a 33-run defeat to Chitwan Rhinos in their last match, Sudurpaschim remain one of the favorites for the playoffs. Chitwan, also with six points from four games, is in a similar position, having won three of their last four matches. The Rhinos will be looking to build on their recent successes as they face Lumbini Lions, Biratnagar Kings, and Pokhara Avengers in their upcoming fixtures.

Karnali Yaks find themselves in fourth place with four points from four matches. However, with a net run rate of -0.427, they will need to make some improvements if they are to advance to the playoffs. The Yaks’ upcoming matches against Pokhara Avengers, Lumbini Lions, and Sudurpaschim Royals will be critical in their quest to climb the standings.

The mid-table battle is exceptionally tight, with Pokhara Avengers and Kathmandu Gurkhas both having two points from three games. Biratnagar Kings are also in a difficult position with just two points from four games, facing a do-or-die scenario in their upcoming matches against Pokhara, Chitwan, and Kathmandu. A few wins could propel these teams into the playoff mix, but they will need to perform under pressure.

At the bottom of the table, Lumbini Lions remain winless, having lost all four of their matches. Their chances of progressing to the knockout stages are very slim, and they will need a remarkable turnaround, relying on other teams’ results to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win in their next match against Chitwan Rhinos could ignite a comeback, but it’s a long road ahead for the Lions.

Individually, Lumbini’s skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel is having an outstanding tournament. Despite his team’s struggles, Paudel is currently the leading run-scorer with 181 runs, including a high score of 95. His form has been exceptional, but he will need support from his teammates to turn around Lumbini’s fortunes. Andries Gous, the wicketkeeper-batsman from Pokhara Avengers, is another standout performer. In just two games, Gous has scored 124 runs, including the first and only century of the tournament so far, making him one of the top contenders for the run-scoring title.

In the bowling department, Sohail Tanvir of Sudurpaschim Royals leads the way with nine wickets, including the first-ever five-wicket haul in the NPL. Nepali bowlers, particularly young talents like Bipin Sharma and Bipin Khatri, are also making significant contributions. Sharma, the 16-year-old, has six wickets to his name, while Khatri has taken five. Harsh Thaker and Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi have also impressed, with Thaker recently claiming a five-wicket haul. It’s worth noting that some of Nepal’s more experienced national team bowlers, such as Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, and Sompal Kami, have not yet made it to the top 10 wicket-takers list, with young and overseas talent dominating the bowling charts.

In the fielding department, Naresh Bahadur Budayair of Sudurpaschim has been a standout, taking the most catches in the NPL so far. Budayair has accounted for seven dismissals, including a remarkable three catches in a single match against Chitwan Rhinos. Anil Sah of Janakpur and Ishan Pandey of Sudurpaschim have also been reliable, each taking four catches in four games.

With 13 matches remaining in the round-robin format, the competition is set to intensify in the second half of the league stage. Every team still has a chance to progress to the knockout stages, making the upcoming matches crucial for all sides involved. The NPL 2024 is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, and fans can expect plenty of drama and excitement as the league progresses.

On Tuesday, the NPL will feature two exciting matches. First, Chitwan Rhinos will face Lumbini Lions at 9 am, with Lumbini aiming for their first win of the tournament, while Chitwan looks to climb to second place on the points table. At 1 pm, Kathmandu Gurkhas will take on Pokhara Avengers, with both teams seeking their second win of the competition.