Pokhara crumbles in Kushal clash

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.