Kathmandu Gurkhas clinched their first win in the Nepal Premier League with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks at the TU International Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The Yaks, now winless in two games, posted a competitive 149 runs, but the Gurkhas chased it down with three balls to spare in a game full of twists and turns.
Electing to field first, the Gurkhas bowled with discipline, restricting Karnali to 149 in 20 overs. The highlight of the Yaks innings was Shikhar Dhawan’s sublime knock of 72 off 51 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes. Dhawan accelerated in the second half of his innings, setting up a defendable total. For the Gurkhas, Gerhard Erasmus stood out with figures of 4-0-29-2, while skipper Karan KC and Nathan Sower took a wicket apiece.
Gurkhas Stumble but Recover in Chase
The Gurkhas chase began shakily after a surprise change in their opening pair. Shankar Rana partnered Michael Levitt at the top, but Rana was run out by substitute fielder William Bosisto in just the second over. Levitt, who showed glimpses of form with 22 off 19 balls, fell to a full toss bowled by Bipin Sharma, the Yaks’ iconic player.
The middle order faltered, with Stephen Eskinazi (3) and Bhim Sharki (9) unable to steady the ship. With 98 needed off the last 10 overs, Erasmus stepped up, scoring a crucial 38 off 28 balls, including two sixes and three boundaries. However, his dismissal to Gulshan Jha left the Gurkhas at 98/5, needing a spark to finish the job.
That spark came from skipper Karan KC, who smashed a game-changing 28 off 10 balls, featuring two sixes and two fours. His blitz was cut short in the penultimate over by a sensational catch from Dev Khanal at long-on, reminiscent of Suryakumar Yadav’s iconic grab in the T20 World Cup final.
In the final over, Sumit Maharjan ensured there were no further hiccups, hitting two boundaries to seal the victory. Maharjan’s unbeaten 40 off 37 balls earned him the Player of the Match award.
Yaks’ Bowling Effort
Skipper Sompal Kami used six bowlers, all of whom contributed with a wicket each. The standout performances came from Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, and Bipin Sharma, but their collective effort wasn’t enough to prevent another defeat.
Upcoming Fixtures
The Gurkhas now shift their focus to the Sudurpaschim Royals, fresh off a commanding 90-run win over Biratnagar Kings. The Yaks face the unbeaten Chitwan Rhinos on Friday, hoping to turn their fortunes around.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
