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Chitwan Rhinos defeated Kathmandu Gurkhas by five wickets in the second game of the Siddhartha Bank Nepal Premier League (NPL) played at the TU Cricket Ground on Monday. 

Chitwan Rhinos achieved the 112-run victory target in 17.1 overs at the loss of five wickets. Santosh Karki hit the highest 28 runs for Chitwan Rhinos. He hit two fours and one six in 31 balls.

Similarly, Luc Benkenstein made 22 runs, Hassan Eisakhil 12 runs, skipper Kushal Malla 11 runs, Ravi Bopara 11 runs and Sharad Veswakar unbeaten 11 runs.

Shahab Alam took three wickets while Gerhard Erasmus and Dan Douthwaite took one wicket each for Kathmandu Gurkhas.

Earlier, Kathmandu Gurkhas, who were sent into bat first after losing the toss, had made 111 runs at the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Sumit Maharjan struck 29 runs with the help of one four in 41 balls for Kathmandu.

Likewise, Michael Levit made 25 runs including four fours and one six in 16 balls, Dan Douthwaite made unbeaten 19 runs and Shankar Rana hit 16 runs.

Sohail Tanveer alone took five wickets for Chitwan Rhinos. He conceded 21 runs bowling four overs. Similarly, Rijan Dhakal, Amar Singh Rautela, Kushal Malla and Luc Benkenstein each took one wicket.

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024 began with an exciting showdown as Janakpur Bolts dominated Biratnagar Kings, claiming an eight-wicket victory at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Saturday. Janakpur’s disciplined bowling and stellar batting performance marked a strong start to the season.  

After being put to bat by Janakpur, Biratnagar Kings were bundled out for 127 runs in 19 overs. Martin Guptill was the lone warrior for Biratnagar, scoring 55 runs off 43 balls, including seven fours and one six. However, he lacked substantial support from his teammates as Janakpur’s bowlers dominated.

Lalit Rajbanshi was the pick of the bowlers for Janakpur, delivering a remarkable spell of 3/28 in his four overs. Harsh Thaker also made a significant impact with figures of 3/22, while Kishore Mahato and Mohammad Mohsin picked up two and one wickets respectively. Biratnagar’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure, with no other batsman managing to cross 15 runs apart from Guptill.  

Chasing 128 for victory, Janakpur faced a brief scare, losing openers Aasif Sheikh (0) and Anil Sah (5) early in the innings. However, Lahiru Milantha anchored the innings with a stunning unbeaten 75 off 53 balls, decorated with nine fours and three sixes. He was well supported by Thaker, who scored a steady 29 not out off 33 deliveries.  

The duo’s partnership ensured Janakpur reached the target comfortably in just 15.3 overs, with 27 balls remaining. 

Milantha’s match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match award, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting season for Janakpur Bolts.

Guptill has stated that batting at the TU Ground is not easy. He explained, “It was difficult to take wickets. It wasn’t easy to bat at first.” Guptill expressed confidence that Biratnagar will improve its performance in the upcoming match. “We didn’t do well in the first match, but we’ll come back stronger in the second match,” he said.

He also mentioned that he had ‘enjoyed’ playing cricket in Nepal. “The people of Nepal are very welcoming. I’m very happy to play in front of thousands of spectators in the first match here. I’ve learned that Nepalis love cricket,” he added. “I didn’t know much about Nepali cricket before, but I’ve learned a lot after today’s match.”

Janakpur is eyeing its second consecutive win as they prepare for their next match on Monday. The NPL action continues with exciting fixtures on the same day, including Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Chitwan Rhinos at 9:15 am, followed by Janakpur Bolts vs Karnali Yaks at 1:15 pm. All the matches throughout the league are set to take place at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

The league will culminate with the playoffs, starting with the Eliminator on Dec 18, followed by Qualifiers on Dec 18 and 19. The grand finale is scheduled for Dec 21.  

Besides the match summary, there was a lot to discuss about the event’s organization. The management team needs to step up their performance, as there were significant issues with crowd control and coordination. Many accredited journalists were unable to enter the venue because their press cards had not been printed by the organizing side. Additionally, spectators who had purchased tickets faced difficulties in accessing the gates. Some, despite having valid tickets, were forced to turn back without being able to watch the game.

Frustrated spectators in line expressed their anger, saying they endured significant hardship after purchasing tickets.

The CAN had sold 10,000 tickets for Saturday’s game online, with tickets available three days in advance. However, despite purchasing tickets online, spectators were still required to stand in long queues to exchange them for physical tickets, adding to the inconvenience.

There were repeated clashes between the police and spectators outside the stadium. As spectators with tickets rushed to enter, some were injured when they were crushed by the crowd. Attempts to force entry through the gates led to further conflict, with the police intervening to control the situation. Unfortunately, several spectators were injured, and five spectators along with two policemen were reported to have sustained injuries during the chaos.

Janakpur Bolts secured an easy victory over Biratnagar Kings in the Nepal Premier League's inaugural match on Saturday at Kirtipur, Kathmandu.

Chasing a target of 128 runs, Janakpur reached 131 in just 15.3 overs with only two wickets down.

A remarkable partnership of 116 runs in 87 balls between Lahiru Milantha and Harsh Thaker was key to Janakpur's win, achieved with 27 balls to spare.

Lahiru Milantha scored a brilliant half-century, amassing 75 runs off 53 balls, while Harsh Thaker contributed 29 runs. 

Anil Sah managed 5 runs, and Aasif Sheikh failed to score.

Biratnagar's bowlers Chris Sole and Pratis GC claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Biratnagar Kings, batting first, were bowled out for 127 runs in 19 overs.

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) kicks off today with a match between Biratnagar Kings and Janakpur Bolts at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.

Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the tournament features eight franchise teams.

On Dec 2, Kathmandu Gurkhas will face Chitwan Rhinos, followed by Karnali Yaks taking on the Bolts later that day.

On Dec 3, Sudurpaschim Royals will play against the Kings, and Pokhara Avengers will compete against the Rhinos.

Lumbini Lions will begin their campaign on Dec 4 with a match against the Kings.

The top four teams from the round-robin league will advance to the playoffs. The top two teams will compete in Qualifier 1, with the winner earning a direct spot in the final.

The third and fourth-ranked teams will play in the Eliminator, with both Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator scheduled for Dec 18.

The loser of Qualifier 1 will have another opportunity to reach the final by facing the winner of the Eliminator in Qualifier 2 on Dec 19.

The winner of Qualifier 2 will secure the remaining spot in the championship match, set for December 21.