Kathmandu, December 4
After Shahab Alam’s spectacular bowling performance taking six wickets, Kathmandu Gorkhas became the second team to secure a spot in the playoffs of the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
In Thursday’s first match, Kathmandu defeated Pokhara Avengers by 13 runs, securing a playoff spot and strengthening their chances of finishing in the top two.
Having played all seven league matches, Kathmandu is in second place with 10 points from five wins and two losses. Their final position in the top two will be confirmed after the remaining league matches.
Meanwhile, Pokhara, suffering their fourth loss in six matches, has only four points, making their playoff chances difficult.
Chasing the target of 166 runs set by Kathmandu Gorkhas, Pokhara Avengers could only manage 152 runs for 10 wickets in the full 20 overs.
Shahab Alam of Kathmandu took a hat-trick in the first three balls of the 20th over. He finished with six wickets for just 25 runs in four overs, becoming the first player of this season to take six wickets in a match.
For Pokhara, Rishi Dhawan scored a half-century. He scored 54 runs off 31 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes. Dhananjaya Lakshan added 30 runs.
After losing four wickets for 55 runs, Dhawan and Lakshan put together a 76-run partnership for the fifth wicket to stabilize Pokhara’s innings. However, once this partnership was broken, their scoring rate dropped.
Lakshan scored 30 runs off 27 balls, including one four and one six. Captain Kushal Bhurtel contributed 22 runs and Jason Roy added 16 runs.
In bowling, Shaheb Alam of Kathmandu took six wickets for 25 runs in four overs. Captain Karan KC and Sunny Patel took two wickets each.
Half-centuries by Kathmandu openers Ben Charlesworth and Bhim Sharki helped the team post 165 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs after batting first.
Charlesworth scored 64 runs off 55 balls. Even as wickets fell at the other end, he anchored Kathmandu’s innings, staying at the crease until the 19th over. He hit five fours and two sixes.
Bhim Sharki scored a half-century in just 19 balls, the fastest in the NPL this season. He finished with 55 runs off 23 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.
For Kathmandu, after losing five wickets for 79 runs, Charlesworth and Sharki put together a 76-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Openers of Kathmandu struggled as Akash Tripathi was bowled by Dhananjay Lakshan without scoring, and Rasid Khan added just 7 runs before getting out. Charlesworth and Milin Kumar tried to stabilize the innings with a 33-run partnership, but Milin Kumar was dismissed for 13 in the 10th over. Wicketkeeper Jon Simpson scored 2, and Mohammad Adil Alam scored 7, leaving Kathmandu at 79 for 5.
However, Sharki, batting at number seven, built the innings with a good partnership with Charlesworth.
For Pokhara, Dhananjaya Lakshan was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 16 runs in four overs, including one maiden. Captain Kushal Bhurtel took two wickets, while Bipin Khatri and Kiran Thagunna took one wicket each.
