KATHMANDU, Nov 25: Kathmandu Gorkhas registered their second win in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) following an aggressive batting display from captain Karan KC and a balanced performance from the bowlers.
In the 11th match held on Tuesday at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu defeated Lumbini Lions by 22 runs.
Chasing a target of 158 runs, Lumbini Lions were bowled out for 135 runs in 19.1 overs. With this victory, Kathmandu added two crucial points to the standings, strengthening their chances of reaching the playoffs.
NPL: Kathmandu Gurkhas register their second victory, beat Lumb...
Earlier, put in to bat first after losing the toss, Kathmandu posted a competitive total of 157 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs.
Kathmandu had a shaky start. Opener Ben Charlesworth was dismissed for a duck in the second over, and Rashid Khan fell for 14 in the fifth over, putting the team under pressure.
Opener Aakash Tripathi steadied the innings from one end, scoring 32 off 36 balls. In the middle order, Santosh Yadav added 26 off 16 balls, while Milind Kumar contributed 17 off 20 balls.
However, it was captain Karan KC who shifted the momentum late in the innings with a blistering knock. Facing just 11 deliveries, he hammered an unbeaten 34 runs, including one four and four sixes, guiding Kathmandu past the 150-run mark.
For Lumbini, captain Rohit Paudel, Gulbadin Naib, Sher Malla and Ruben Trumpelmann claimed two wickets each.
In reply, Lumbini lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to build partnerships, eventually falling short. Sher Malla top-scored with 27 off 18 balls in the lower order, while Dilip Nath (25) and D’Arcy Short (22) also made notable contributions but could not steer the team to victory.
Key batters including captain Rohit Paudel (11), Sandeep Jora (7) and Gulbadin Naib (11) were dismissed cheaply, causing Lumbini’s innings to collapse. Kathmandu’s bowlers dominated, with Milind Kumar and Gerhard Erasmus taking two wickets each, while Karan KC, Rashid Khan and Santosh Yadav picked up one wicket apiece.
