Karnali Yaks have made a solid comeback in the Nepal Premier League after two consecutive defeats in their first two matches. They registered their third consecutive victory with a dominant 7-wicket win over Pokhara Avengers on Tuesday at the TU International Cricket Ground.
Pokhara’s Batting Collapse
Coming off a 10-wicket victory against Lumbini Lions, Pokhara Avengers elected to bat first after winning the toss. However, they could only muster 103 runs, which Karnali Yaks chased down comfortably in 15 overs.
Pokhara openers started aggressively, with Andries Gous and Dinesh Kharel scoring at over 10 runs per over in the first four overs. Gous, who scored 25 off 12, was dismissed by Karnali’s talent hunt pick Bipin Sharma in the fourth over. Kharel followed soon after, bowled by Unish Thakuri inside the powerplay. Despite losing both openers, the Avengers were in a strong position at 52/2 after six overs.
The collapse began when captain Kushal Bhurtel fell for 10 runs, continuing his poor form in the tournament. William Bosisto triggered the downfall, dismissing Bhurtel and claiming five more wickets as Pokhara lost their remaining batters for just 29 runs. None of the Avengers’ middle or lower order could stabilize the innings.
Bosisto delivered the best bowling performance of the tournament, finishing with figures of 4-0-28-6. He was supported by skipper Sompal Kami, Bipin Sharma, and Unish Thakuri, who each picked up a wicket. Gulshan Jha was not utilized with the ball for Karnali in this match.
Yaks Comfortable Chase
The chase began on a shaky note for Karnali, as both openers, Babar Hayat and Dev Khanal, were dismissed early, leaving them at 14/2. Hayat was brought in as a replacement for Shikhar Dhawan but couldn’t make an impact.
Chadwick Walton then joined Gulshan Jha to stabilize the innings with a 50-run partnership. Walton scored 42 runs off 34 balls, including six boundaries and a six. Jha played the anchor role and remained unbeaten on 49 from 37 deliveries, smashing four sixes and three boundaries to guide Yaks to victory.
Bipin Khatri, Sagar Dhakal, and Kushal Bhurtel each claimed a wicket for Pokhara Avengers but couldn’t prevent the inevitable.
Playoff Scenarios
With this win, Karnali Yaks emerge as strong contenders for a top-four spot, showcasing a remarkable turnaround in the tournament. Meanwhile, Pokhara Avengers playoff hopes are fading fast, with their performances failing to match expectations.
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