KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Kathmandu Gurkhas have set a target of 102 runs for Janakpur Bolts in the 21st match of the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL) on Thursday.
After winning the toss and decided to bat first, the Gurkhas were bundled out for 101 runs in 19.3 overs at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
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Openers Michael Levitt was dismissed for 8 runs, and Stephen Eskinazi was dismissed for 17 runs off 19 balls including two fours. Levitt was caught by Mohammad Mohsin off Janakpur's Kishore Mahato in the third over. Eskinazi was dismissed through an LBW by Lalit Rajbanshi in the seventh over. In the previous over, Bhim Sarki was dismissed for four runs by Mohammad Mohsin.
Gerhard Erasmus, who was dismissed by Mohsin, added 20 runs. Then Sumit Maharjan got out for nil, Rashid Khan for 7 runs, Dan Douthwaite for 1 run and Pratish Shrestha for 6 runs. In the first ball of the last over, Sher Malla dismissed Kathmandu captain Karan KC for 19 runs.
From the Bolts’ bowling attack, Lalit Rajbanshi and Sher Malla claimed three wickets each, Mohammad Mosin took two and Kishore Mahato and Arniko Yadav took one wicket apiece.
The Gurkhas, while playing the fifth match in the ongoing NPL, is in fifth place with 4 points. Janakpur is in second place with 8 points. If they win against Gurkhas, Bolts will secure a place in the playoffs with one game in hand. Gurkhas face pressure to win in order to maintain the possibility of making it to the playoffs.
