The second day of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) featured two matches at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, with the Chitwan Rhinos and Biratnagar Kings emerging victorious.
The first match of the day saw the Chitwan Rhinos clinch a four-wicket win against the Karnali Yaks. After winning the toss, Chitwan’s decision to field first initially appeared costly as Karnali’s opener, Priyank Panchal, launched a devastating assault on the bowling attack. Panchal’s innings of 90 from just 48 balls, which included seven boundaries and six sixes, formed the backbone of the Karnali’ total. Despite his dominance, the Chitwan bowlers did well to restrict the flow of runs in the death overs, limiting Karnali to 166 for 3. Spinner Ravi Bopara was notably economical, conceding only 18 runs from his three overs and taking the crucial wicket of Panchal.
In reply, the Chitwan’ chase was marked by periods of pressure and timely acceleration. They suffered early setbacks with the dismissals of Dawid Malan and Dev Khanal, leaving them at a precarious 29 for 2. A 38-run partnership between Deepak Bohara (42) and Ravi Bopara steadied the innings before another flurry of wickets swung the momentum back towards Karnali. With the game in the balance, Bopara shifted gears to complete a vital half-century. However, the match-winning impetus came from Saif Zaib, who blasted 38 runs from a mere 16 deliveries, including four sixes, to dismantle Karnali’s bowling attack in the final overs. The Chitwan eventually reached their target of 167 with five balls to spare. For his pivotal 52-run knock and key wicket, Bopara was awarded the Player of the Match.
The evening game was a display of pure batting firepower as the Biratnagar Kings secured a comprehensive 53-run victory over the Pokhara Avengers. Put into bat first, Biratnagar amassed a formidable total of 220 for 6, highest in the second season. The innings was set up by a spectacular 132-run stand between Lokesh Bam and Martin Guptill. Guptill was the initial aggressor, racing to 61 off 35 balls, while Bam anchored the innings with a composed 72 from 48 deliveries. The onslaught was continued by Shubham Ranjane, who smashed 38 from 16 balls to propel the Biratnagar past the 220-mark, leaving the Pokhara’s bowlers with an economy rate soaring above 10 for the night.
Facing a daunting required rate of 11.05, the Pokhara Avengers began their chase with explosive intent. Adam Rossington (39 from 21 balls) and Kushal Bhurtel (59 from 31 balls) took the powerplay score to 77 for 1, keeping their team in contention. However, the dismissal of Bhurtel triggered a dramatic and catastrophic collapse. The middle order, including Jimmy Neesham and Trit Raj Das, fell cheaply to the spin of Sandeep Lamichhane, who finished with exceptional figures of 2 for 18 from his four overs. From a promising 88 for 1, the Pokhara lost their last nine wickets for 79 runs, eventually being bowled out for 167 in the 19th over. The Biratnagar bowling was a collective effort, with Marchant de Lange, Pratis GC, and Shubham Ranjane all claiming two wickets each.
The Nepal Premier League continues on Wednesday with a single day-night fixture at the same venue. The Kathmandu Gorkhas will take on the Sudurpaschim Royals, with the match scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.
This match will mark the season opener for the Sudurpaschim Royals, who will be looking to start their campaign on a positive note. The Kathmandu Gorkhas, in contrast, will be playing their second game, buoyed by a victory over the Janakpur Bolts in the tournament opener on Monday.
